There are numerous factors that can alter the success or failure of an action. And even if we have the real possibility of achieving it, doing something is not the same as doing it well: our willingness to do it affects motivation and achievement, degree or even perception of the task or situation.
We are not talking about something that is either A or B, but rather There are many types of attitudes Well, this is what we are talking about, what they may have about it.
Before starting to evaluate different types of attitudes, it is necessary to take into account what we can consider attitude itself.
In this sense, it is called attitude to the effect of the set of relatively stable beliefs and values over time in the disposition or tendency to act in a certain way or undertake some type of action. Is about a determining aspect when carrying out an action and the type of emotion it generates said activity or way of interacting with a specific situation or stimulus.
An attitude can be more or less generalized, may refer to an extensive area or even to a specific type of stimulus (This is what happens, for example, with ethnic or racial prejudices).
The attitude towards the world arises from the interaction between biological and hereditary factors (like aptitudes or personality traits, some of them are favored by the genetics of each subject) and environmental factors such as learning throughout life. the life of the subject.
Likewise, they can be actively modified through training or mere exposure to the topic generating the attitude, e.g. associating the activity in question with positive or negative reinforcements based on experience.
Functions of attitudes
The presence of a certain attitude has four basic functions, as proposed by Katz in 1960.
Firstly, they have a utilitarian or instrumental function, in the sense that they allow us to undertake and approach the fulfillment of the goals of those who have them.
Another of their functions is that of knowledge, since they allow both process as well as even selectively perceive the available information in the environment.
The third of the basic functions of attitudes is the expression of values, allowing the beliefs behind one’s own actions to be shown.
Finally, and linked to the previous one, the function of defense of the self stands out, linked to the preservation of self-esteem and self-concept by allowing self-affirmation and self-justification of one’s own actions.
The types of attitudes
It is possible to find a great variety of types of attitudes, classified according to various criteria and without being mutually exclusive. Among them we can observe the following.
1. According to its affective valence
One of the possible ways to classify emotions is through their affective valence, in the sense of how they allow us to evaluate the environment and the situation. We can find the following three types of attitudes.
1.1. Positive attitude
One of the most favorable types of attitude is the positive attitude, through which the situation or exposure to a stimulus is visualized in a way that favors a positive and optimistic interpretation regardless of whether difficulties are faced, bringing the subject closer to the stimulation. or action now the search for achieving goals in a healthy way, confident and generally disciplined. It is usually contagious.
1.2. Negative attitude
Type of attitude that generates a negative and pessimistic view of reality, generally maximizing the aversive experience and giving little value or directly not seeing the positive aspects of the situation. It usually generates an avoidance of the action or whiny behavior beyond rationality, making it difficult to achieve goals. Just like the positive one is usually contagious.
1.3. neutral attitude
We can consider a neutral attitude to be one in which judgment and thought are not colored by either positive or negative emotionality. Is about one of the least common types of attitude and it is usually typical of people who claim to be impartial in their judgments.
2. Classification according to their orientation to the activity
Another type of classification, not at odds with the previous one, refers to the way in which individual dispositions generate a specific approach or orientation towards the idea of carrying out a behavior or activity. In this sense and we can highlight the following.
A type of attitude in which action and the autonomous and active search for an improvement in the realization or performance of the activity or an autonomous search for the solution of problems that may arise are prioritized. It is a type of mentality that promotes creativity and the generation of added value, as well as the pursuit of achieving the present objectives and even looking for new challenges to achieve after that. It is highly valued in the labor market.
2.2. reactive attitude
This type of attitude is also linked to acting and implementing behaviors, but with a more passive and dependent mentality on what is established. A reactive person will depend largely on instructions and resources and will have more difficulties facing unforeseen problems, not being autonomous. Predisposes to conformism and non-action if there is nothing that forces her.
3. Classification according to the motivation to act
Another type of attitude that can be considered arises not so much from how we orient ourselves towards the activity but from what motivates us to do it. In this sense we can find the following types of attitudes.
3.1. interested attitude
This type of attitude implies that what the subject seeks in his action is achieving your own individual goals not taking into account or valuing the needs of others very little.
One seeks one’s own benefit, whether directly or indirectly, and this may be more or less evident. You can also seek the benefit of others, but it must always bring some type of personal benefit (even if it is at the level of social consideration). It promotes another type of attitude that we will see later, the manipulative one.
3.2. Selfless/altruistic attitude
The subject with this type of attitude carries out his actions with the purpose of generating a benefit for others or regardless of whether it may not generate profits or may even cause losses. It is unusual, since most actions generate secondary benefits for the subject himself, even if it is on a psychic level.
In addition to the objectives themselves, attitudes can also be classified based on how one interacts with others.
4.1. Collaborative/integrative attitude
A very useful type of attitude, promotes interaction with others so that everyone can achieve their objectives and achieve their shared and individual goals.
4.2. manipulative attitude
This type of attitude is what someone has who voluntarily and consciously uses others, objectifying them in order to obtain their own objectives, favor their interests or direct the situation towards a point desired by them.
4.3. passive attitude
It is a type of attitude derived from a negative vision of reality, in which it is presented an absence of initiative and activity, not seeking the approach to the action but its avoidance. On a personal level, they can subordinate their wishes to those of others, being dependent and not defending their rights.
4.4. aggressive attitude
A way of acting and taking situations in such a way that one’s own rights are defended independently of those of others, going so far as to ignore or undervalue them if they are contrary to those of the subject himself.
4.5. Assertive attitude
A type of attitude in which the subject defends his own opinions and rights consistently, but respects those of others and being flexible in such a way that respects the other and gives space for negotiation.
4.6. Permissive attitude
This type of attitude is largely linked to the propensity to be extremely flexible, allowing and valuing deviations from the norm.
5. According to the type of elements used to evaluate the stimuli
Another type of attitude is linked to our way of processing reality or to the type of aspects that are used to evaluate each situation.
5.1. emotional/emotional attitude
The emotional or emotive attitude is the one that those people have who tend to be emotionally based and value one’s own and others’ affections. They tend to be more generous, romantic and affectionate both in their interactions and when evaluating situations (sometimes even contrary to rationality).
5.2. Rational attitude
It is experienced by people who rely on the use of logic and reason when evaluating reality, often ignoring irrational or emotional aspects.
