Anuradha always used semi-automatic washing machine, thinking that it cleans better than the fully automatic machine. After discussing with her colleague and listening to her arguments that it is better to use a fully automatic machine as it is economical in terms of time and efficiency, Anuradha decides to buy and use a fully automatic washing machine. This change in attitude can be summarized as:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Congruent attitude change due to rational appeal
Note: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. However, there seems to be a mistake in the answer. Anuradha first preferred the semi-automatic machine and now prefers the fully automatic one, so her attitude has turned in a direction opposite to her existing attitude; going strictly by the definitions, this is an incongruent attitude change due to rational appeal, which is Option (4), as explained below.
The question has two parts: the kind of appeal that brought the change, and the direction of the change.
Appeal. A message may carry a rational appeal, which points to practical gains (a pressure cooker saves fuel and is economical), or an emotional appeal, which works on feelings (pressure-cooking preserves nutrition, and one cares for the family). Her colleague’s argument that the fully automatic machine is economical in terms of time and efficiency is a rational appeal, so Options (1) and (2) are ruled out.
Direction. A change is congruent when the attitude moves in the same direction as before (a positive attitude becomes more positive), and incongruent when it moves in the opposite direction (a positive attitude becomes less positive, or negative). Anuradha’s attitude was positive towards the semi-automatic machine; after her colleague’s argument she prefers the fully automatic machine. Her attitude has moved in the opposite direction, so the change is incongruent.
Option (1) Congruent attitude change due to emotional appeal — Incorrect. The colleague gave reasons of time and efficiency, not an appeal to feelings.
Option (2) Incongruent attitude change due to emotional appeal — Incorrect. The appeal was rational, not emotional.
Option (3) Congruent attitude change due to rational appeal — Correct as per the NTA answer key; however, it should have been Incorrect. The appeal is rational, but the change is not congruent: Anuradha’s attitude did not grow stronger in the same direction; it turned from the semi-automatic machine to the fully automatic one.
Option (4) Incongruent attitude change due to rational appeal — Should be Correct, but has been taken as Incorrect as per the NTA answer key. The appeal is rational (time and efficiency), and her attitude has turned in the opposite direction, which is an incongruent change.
NCERT (2025-26): “…Whether the message contains a rational or an emotional appeal, also makes a difference. For example, an advertisement for cooking food in a pressure cooker may point out that this saves fuel such as cooking gas (LPG) and is economical (rational appeal). Alternatively, the advertisement may say that pressure-cooking preserves nutrition, and that if one cares for the family, nutrition would be a major concern (emotional appeal)…” “Factors that Influence Attitude Change … In addition, one must also consider the direction and extent of attitude change. An attitude change may be congruent — it may change in the same direction as the existing attitude (for example, a positive attitude may become more positive, or a negative attitude may become more negative). For instance, suppose a person has a somewhat positive attitude towards empowerment of women. Reading about a successful woman may make this attitude more positive. This would be a congruent change. On the other hand, an attitude change may be incongruent — it may change in a direction opposite to the existing attitude (for example, a positive attitude becomes less positive, or negative, or a negative attitude becomes less negative, or positive). In the example just given, after reading about successful women, a person may think that women might soon become too powerful, and neglect their family responsibilities. This may make the person’s existing positive attitude towards empowerment of women, less positive, or even negative. If this happens, then it would be a case of incongruent change.…” |