Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Attitudes are our evaluations or feelings toward a person, idea, or object that are typically positive or negative.
Related terms
Affective Component: This refers to the emotional reaction one has towards an attitude object. For example, feeling scared when thinking about spiders.
Behavioral Component: This involves the way we behave or act towards an attitude object. For instance, avoiding places where you might encounter spiders due to fear.
Cognitive Component: This pertains to our beliefs or knowledge about an attitude object. Like knowing that not all spiders are harmful.