Parents of a 3 year old child want him to develop a favourable attitude towards touching the feet of elders as a sign of respect for them. They decide that they will do it themselves and the child will learn from them and form a positive attitude towards touching the feet of elders. What process of attitude formation is operational in this scenario?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Learning through modelling
Option (1) Learning through modelling — Correct. Here attitudes are learnt by observing others showing a behaviour towards the attitude object and being appreciated for it. For example, children may form a respectful attitude towards elders by observing that their parents show respect for elders. The parents in the question plan to touch elders’ feet themselves so that the child learns from watching them.
Option (2) Learning through exposure to information — Incorrect. Attitudes form from information given through media or reading, such as biographies of self-actualised people, not in the physical presence of a model.
Option (3) Learning attitude through group and cultural norms — Incorrect. Here attitudes come from the unwritten rules of one’s group or culture, which slowly turn into one’s own attitudes, such as offering money and sweets at a place of worship because others do. The parents act deliberately as models for the child.
Option (4) Learning attitude by being rewarded or punished — Incorrect. An attitude forms when a person is praised or punished for showing it. The child here is not rewarded; he only watches.
NCERT (2025-26): “Learning attitudes by being rewarded or punished : … If an individual is praised for showing a particular attitude, chances are high that s/he will develop that attitude further.…” “Learning attitudes through modelling (observing others) : … Often it is not through association, or through reward and punishment, that we learn attitudes. Instead, we learn them by observing others being rewarded or punished for expressing thoughts, or showing behaviour of a particular kind towards the attitude object. For example, children may form a respectful attitude towards elders, by observing that their parents show respect for elders, and are appreciated for it.…” “Learning attitudes through group or cultural norms : … Very often, we learn attitudes through the norms of our group or culture. Norms are unwritten rules about behaviour that everyone is supposed to show under specific circumstances.…” “Learning through exposure to information : … Many attitudes are learned in a social context, but not necessarily in the physical presence of others. Today, with the huge amount of information that is being provided through various media, both positive and negative attitudes are being formed.…” |