Which of the following best defines Attitudes?

• A. Learned tendencies to respond positively or negatively
• B. What we accept as true
• C. Deeply held principles guiding behavior
• D. The visible behavior of a clinician

Answer: (A)

Attitudes are learned tendencies to respond positively or negatively to objects, people, or ideas. This evaluative stance shapes how we perceive situations and how we react, making it easier to predict automatic responses in social interactions. They develop from experiences, socialization, and information we receive, and while they can change, they’re generally stable over time.

This differs from beliefs, which are what we accept as true, and from values, which are deeply held principles guiding how we should act. It also isn’t the visible behavior itself, which is the action we observe; behavior can express an attitude, but the attitude is the underlying predisposition.