The concept of 'Balance' in Attitude Change is explained below. Identify the correct options:
(A) Fritz Heider described this change in the form of P-O-X triangle, which explains relationship between the aspects.
(B) P is the person whose attitude is being studied. O is another person, X is the topic towards which attitude is studied.
(C) Attitude changes if there is a state of imbalance between P-O, O-X, P-X attitude.
(D) Imbalance is found when all three sides are positive.
(E) Balance is found when all three sides of the P-O-X triangle are negative.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A), (B) & (C) only
Heider’s idea of balance rests on the signs of the three sides of the P-O-X triangle. Imbalance is found when all three sides are negative, or when two are positive and one negative. Balance is found when all three sides are positive, or when two are negative and one positive.
(A) Fritz Heider described this change in the form of P-O-X triangle, which explains relationship between the aspects. Correct. The concept of balance, proposed by Fritz Heider, is described in the form of the P-O-X triangle, which represents the relationships between three aspects of the attitude.
(B) P is the person whose attitude is being studied. O is another person, X is the topic towards which attitude is studied. Correct. These are the three corners of the triangle; X is the attitude object.
(C) Attitude changes if there is a state of imbalance between P-O, O-X, P-X attitude. Correct. Imbalance is logically uncomfortable, so the attitude changes in the direction of balance.
(D) Imbalance is found when all three sides are positive. Incorrect. All three sides positive is balance: P likes O, O likes X and P likes X, so nothing is uncomfortable.
(E) Balance is found when all three sides of the P-O-X triangle are negative. Incorrect. All three sides negative is imbalance. Balance with negative sides needs two negatives and one positive.
NCERT (2025-26): “Process of Attitude Change … (a) The concept of balance, proposed by Fritz Heider is sometimes described in the form of the ‘P-O-X’ triangle, which represents the relationships between three aspects or components of the attitude. P is the person whose attitude is being studied, O is another person, and X is the topic towards which the attitude is being studied (attitude object). It is also possible that all three are persons. The basic idea is that an attitude changes if there is a state of imbalance between the P-O attitude, O-X attitude, and P-X attitude. This is because imbalance is logically uncomfortable. Therefore, the attitude changes in the direction of balance. Imbalance is found when (i) all three sides of the P-O-X triangle are negative, or (ii) two sides are positive, and one side is negative. Balance is found when (i) all three sides are positive, or (ii) two sides are negative, and one side is positive.…” |