AttitudesAQA Physical Education

Attitudes LOsDefine Attitudes, beliefs and valuesExplain the difference between attitudes, beliefs and valuesDescribe the Components of an attitudeExplain how attitudes are formedExplain how to change attitudes through persuasive communication and cognitive dissonance

Activity 11 group of 3, 1 group of 4 2 observers4 Tasks to complete

10 minutesWrite a Poem about Sport

10 minutesDevise an arm wrestling competition and decide a winner

10 minutesPlan a coaching session teaching youngsters to throw and catch

10 minutesDraw a sports stadium

Discuss the taskWhat attitudes did people have?

TaskIn pairs come up with potential definitions for belief, values and attitudesDecide what is the difference between the different terms.

DefinitionsAttitudes ideas charged with emotion (positive or negative) which predisposes a class of actions to a particular social situationBelief represent the knowledge or information we have about the worldValues are deep seated feelings or thoughts (emotions) which form the basis for evaluating if something is worthwhile. (Culturally based)

The link.Attitudes are thereforeBlend of beliefs and valuesLearned viaSocial environment (experience)Provide us with a means to express our values Attitude is a key which determines behaviourCan have attitudes to objects, people, events or ideasNot all embracing (can hate rugby but not all sport)

Secord and Backman (1964)Developed 3 components of attitude (Triadic model)Cognitve (what we know and believe about the attitude object.)Affective (how we feel about the attitude object.)Behavioural (how we actually behave towards, respond to or intend to respond to the attitude object.)

Applied to sportAn athlete can show a positive attitude to sport by believing in the benefits of exercise (Cognitive)By showing enthusiasm and enjoyment in games (affective)By turning up to practice and taking a regular part in sport (behavioural)

ButRelationship between cognitive and behavioural parts are unreliablei.e. what you believe is not necessarily what you doE.g. you might believe that weight training will make you stronger but you might not do it!!Due to Affective component (male might want to look muscular but female may not!)So quite a simplistic approach

Attitude FormationLearning (past experiences, successes and failures)FamiliarityClassical conditioningOperant ConditioningSocialisation (Significant others)Peer groups and social groups

Positive or negative attitudesPositive attitudes formed:Belief in exerciseEnjoyable experiences in sportBeing good at a sportExcited by challenge of sportUsing sport as stress release

Positive or negative attitudesNegative attitudes formed:Not believing in benefits of exerciseA bad past experienceInjuryA lack of abilityFear of taking partSuffering stress when taking partInfluence of others

Positive attitude towards sportWe must ensure:See the relevance of specific fitness and practice programmesGain a direct experience of the fitness/practice programmes to specific activitiesAnd that any negative attitudes are dealt with ASAP!

Changing attitudesPersuasive CommunicationFour basic factors;Who is trying to persuade?What is the message?Whom is the message trying to reach?What is the situation context?

Cognitive DissonanceChallenging one or more components of an attitude causes unease in the performer which may motivate them to change attitude

ExampleE.g. You might reject the need for aggression in your sport (Belief 1)But in order to win against a particular team you must physically intimidate your oponent (Belief 2). Two beliefs conflictThis dissonance is resolved by telling yourself that its alright to playhard against this particular opponent because they play rough too Modification to (Belief 1)

What else..Coaches may also usePoint out benefits to healthMaking activities fun and enjoyableAllowing easy initial successUsing roll modelsAttributing the reasons for success internally

Changing Attitudes TaskUsing your notes..Look carefully at the methods used by coaches to change attitudes.You are trying to establish a rugby league team for girls and at the first session quite a few girls arrive but are not sure they want to continue. They think rugby league is mainly for men and is too physical for them.How can you persuade the girls to continue?How can you change their attitude?

Attitudes and PredjudiceA prejudice = extreme attitudeE.g. Gender, race, age, officials, team

Formed: social learning, fitting in with social norms, media pressure, past bad experience, fearOvercome PC, CD, re-educate (roll models/media), punishment, reinforce fair behaviour

Measurement..Dogmatism taskTwo scalesThurstones scaleLikerts scaleObservation

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