According to Fritz Heider's concept of balance, described in the form of P-O-X triangle, attitude change occurs when -
(A) When all three sides of P-O-X triangle are negative.
(B) When all three sides are positive.
(C) When two sides are positive and one negative.
(D) When two sides are negative and one is positive.
(E) When there is no relation between any side.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → (A) and (C) Only
In Heider’s P-O-X triangle, P is the person whose attitude is studied, O another person and X the attitude object. An attitude changes when there is imbalance among the P-O, O-X and P-X attitudes, because imbalance is logically uncomfortable; it then changes in the direction of balance.
(A) When all three sides of P-O-X triangle are negative. Correct. This is imbalance, the first of the two cases of imbalance, so the attitude changes.
(B) When all three sides are positive. Incorrect. This is balance: everyone likes everyone and agrees about X, so nothing pushes for a change.
(C) When two sides are positive and one negative. Correct. This is the second case of imbalance. In the dowry example, P favours dowry and likes O, but O is against dowry: two positives and one negative, so an attitude has to change.
(D) When two sides are negative and one is positive. Incorrect. This is balance too: if P and O dislike each other, their disagreement about X causes no discomfort.
(E) When there is no relation between any side. Incorrect. The theory works on the positive or negative relations among P, O and X; with no relation there is no triangle to be balanced or unbalanced.
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.…” “…Consider the example of dowry as an attitude topic (X). Suppose a person (P) has a positive attitude towards dowry (P-X positive). P is planning to get his son married to the daughter of some person (O) who has a negative attitude towards dowry (O-X negative). What would be the nature of the P-O attitude, and how would it determine balance or imbalance in the situation? If O initially has a positive attitude towards P, the situation would be unbalanced. P-X is positive, O-P is positive, but O-X is negative. That is, there are two positives and one negative in the triangle.…” |