1. ATTITUDE OBJECTS
The people, subject or situation towards which an attitude is directed.

2. & BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSE
What is an ATTITUDE?
ATTITUDES – A learned behavioural predisposition. (linked with personality)
UNSTABLE
LEARNED
CAN BE
CHANGED/
CONTROLLED
DIRECTED TOWARDS
ATTITUDE OBJECTS
ENDURING EMOTIONAL
& BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSE

3. Formation of Attitudes
COACHES/ TEACHERS
PAST EXPERIENCES
ATTITUDES
PREDUJICE
PARENTS
MEDIA
FRIENDS/ PEERS
Attitudes are mainly formed through experiences.
Socialisation: The process of mixing and relating to other people.

4. Triadic Model of Attitudes
This is known as the information component
This concerns how a person intends to behave towards an attitude object
This is known as the emotional component

5. Cognitive Dissonance Theory (Festinger)
If a person hold two ideas that oppose and conflict with each other an element of discomfort arises. Emotional conflict is called DISSONANCE.

6. Cognitive Dissonance Theory (Festinger)
To reduce this feeling of dissonance, the impact of one of the conflicting ideas could be lessened and therefore an attitude would change.
Updating knowledge or providing a person with new information can change the cognitive component.
Providing a person with new and positive experiences can modify the affective component.
If a skill is simplified or if some form of guidance is used to make execution easier, the behavioural component of attitude can be changed.
Remember METHODS OF GUIDANCE from AS SKILL

7. Example
A rugby player might believe that aerobics is too ‘girlie’ so the coach tells him that some of the fittest people do it to improve stamina.
This attack on the player’s beliefs causes a change in attitude and the player now does aerobics to keep fit.

8. Other methods used by coaches include:
pointing out the benefits to health
making the activity fun & enjoyable
allowing easy initial success
using the examples of role-models
using reinforcement
attributing the reasons for success internally

9. Persuasive Communication Theory
You need to be aware of most effective way of persuading someone to change their attitude.
Would these people persuade you or would they just cause you stress?

10. Persuasive Communication Theory
The Persuader
Significant other
with high status
2. The Message
Positive to initiate
the change
PERSUASIVE COMMUNICATION
the person must
pay attention
- understand
- accept
- retain
the message being given
the coach must
- be expert
- be trustworthy
the message must
- be clear
- be unambiguous
- be balanced between pros and cons
3. The recipients
Easy to changed
an attitude if the
recipient really
wishes to be
changed
4. The situation
The presence of
other persuaders

11. TASK…………
You are a GCSE PE pupil. How could persuasive communication change your negative attitude towards cross country?

12. ANSWER…………
A significant other, e.g. teacher/captain persuades you that cross country has excellent fitness benefits for a GCSE PE pupil. The teacher explains that they can chose cross country as one of their 4 sports.
The teacher tells you it will improve your practical grade if you opt for cross country.
You understand that this could improve your overall practical grade so you begin to realise the benefits of taking part.
Other pupils in your GCSE class share positive experiences of cross country with you and actively encourage you to take part.

13. TASK…………
How could a physical education teacher change the negative attitude that a pupil may have towards swimming?

14. ANSWER….. Educate the pupil about the benefits of swimming
Use cognitive dissonance theory
Persuasive communication from a significant other, e.g. teacher
Set achievable goals to ensure pupil achieves success and experiences enjoyment.
Offer rewards, e.g. praise, trophies.
Familiarise with role models from within the sport of swimming.
Use floats to make execution of some strokes easier.
Attribution retraining.

15. To conclude……….
Attitudes are generally poor predictors of behaviour.
Social and situational factors influence actual behaviour very strongly.
“Behavioural intention is the strongest predictor of behaviour (Fishbein, 1974).”

16. Elite tennis players have to devote large amounts of time to develop their skills, requiring a positive attitude and high levels of motivation.
Name and explain the components of attitudes, giving an example of how a tennis player would display a positive ‘attitude’. (3 marks)

17. A. Cognitive (component) – believe/think they are training and playing in the correct manner or eq.
B. Affective (component) – positive
feelings/emotions/enjoyment or eq.
C. Behavioural (component) – actions of the player/ train regularly/compete fairly or eq
D. Use of applied positive example