24 types of human attitudes

In our lives we can find different predispositions that also give rise to different behaviors.. Through them we assume behavioral and cognitive patterns that allow us to react more efficiently to various situations.

Thus, the attitude we have determines how we position ourselves against what happens to us. Furthermore, it defines what we do, along with what we can control and what meaning we give to adversity. This is, to a large extent, what builds us, and is the thread that unites the great events of our existence.

Definition of attitude

Each of us travels with a set of beliefs, emotions and behaviors that conditions our way of positioning ourselves in the face of changes in the environment. In fact, they allow us to respond in a faster and more controlled way to uncertainty.

This way of acting and disposed towards certain stimuli is what we call attitude. In more concrete words, as Aroldo Rodrigues points out in his book Social psychologyan attitude is an organization of beliefs and cognitions equipped with an affective charge in favor or against a defined social object, which predisposes to an action.

The attitude always refers to something beyond itself, to an object of attitude. These objects can be concrete or abstract (freedom, equality), they can be ideas, opinions or behaviors, people or groups. Attitude can develop towards anything and can be positive (favorable) or negative (unfavorable).

The structure that gives rise to a certain attitude is the integration of evaluations based on one, two or three of its components, which are: beliefs, emotions and behaviors. The judgments of each of them may not coincide.

For example, in the book Introduction to social psychology It is noted that beliefs can be favorable to the object, while feelings are unfavorable. When the elements of one of the components, or the components among themselves, are not consistent in action, attitudes are ambivalent.

Functions of attitudes

What function do attitudes have in our lives? Why are they so important? Let’s look at four of its basic functions:

Knowledge organization: We are constantly being stimulated by the environment, so our mind needs to structure, organize and give coherence to the information. Attitudes help us in this, structuring and organizing information in positive and negative terms.. Thus, thanks to them we can predict what we can expect in certain situations.instrumental function: attitudes help obtain reinforcement or avoid punishment. They allow us to achieve our goals and have certain benefits. For example, having a good attitude to work can help the employer notice us.Identity function and expression of values: We usually express our attitudes by expressing opinions on different issues. These expressions help us inform others about who we are, in terms of values ​​and principles.Defensive ego function: Attitudes can also help us defend our self. They help us maintain our self-esteem and self-concept in such a way that we feel satisfied and in line with who we are.

Attitudes allow us to respond more quickly to the environment. By predisposing us to act in certain ways and think in certain ways, attitudes guide us through the uncertainty of the situations in which we operate daily.

24 types of attitudes

There are several types of attitudes classified according to different criteria. This classification does not imply that they are exclusive. Attitudes are dynamic and interact with each other.

1. According to its worth

Attitudes are evaluations that we have towards different objects, people or situations. These can be positive or negative, which influences the way we approach and interact with the world.

Positive attitude: This type of attitude allows us to realize favorable evaluations about the attitude object. It brings us closer to it and helps us achieve the goals we have set for ourselves. It induces optimism in us, even if the circumstances are discouraging.Negative attitude: is a unfavorable and pessimistic predisposition towards the attitude object. It can lead us to give up in the face of difficulties and not actively fight for change, if necessary. It can lead to avoidant behavior and a complaining response.Neutral attitude: It is the midpoint between positive and negative attitude. It is neither positive nor negative.

Attitudes affect our relationships with the world. When it is positive, it helps us to be proactive and optimistic in the face of challenges, while when it is negative it can lead us to surrender and avoidance.

2. According to the activity orientation

Attitudes may vary depending on the orientation to the activity. In this sense, we can find proactive attitudes and reactive, flexible and inflexible attitudes. All of them configure a way of responding to the situations we experience.

Proactive attitude: It is one of the attitudes that help us take the initiative. Promotes creativity and innovation.Reactive attitude: Unlike the previous one, this attitude is not active, but passive. It is a disposition to only react to external stimulation. With it we do not have the will to act proactively.Flexible attitude: This type of attitude allows us to open ourselves to new possibilities and adapt easily to circumstances. Through it, we can put aside the rigidity that sometimes dominates us.Inflexible attitude: It is a type of attitude that makes us remain stubbornly in our conceptions, even though our environment is demanding us to make new changes.

Our attitudes determine the initiatives we have in the face of life’s challenges. Thanks to them we can motivate our creativity and meet challenges, or we can relax and let things happen as they should happen, without giving them greater importance.

3. According to the motivation to act

Attitudes can influence our motivations. It can lead us to act in an interested way, by always expecting to receive compensation for what we do, or on the contrary, make us more altruistic in our actions.

Interested attitude: It is the one in which we only search achieve our own goals, without taking into account the needs of other people. We seek a benefit for our lives at the expense of others.Altruistic attitude: It leads us to benefit others, even putting our needs and desires in the background. There is no interest in obtaining one’s own benefit through the work done for others.

Evaluative predispositions influence the ability to empathize and care about others, making us more or less altruistic, or more or less interested. It is important that we identify our attitudes to prevent them from affecting our own internal motivations.

4. According to the ethical character

When we weigh the ethical nature of a behavior or event, we also appeal to certain attitudes that facilitate our responses.. Thus, according to this criterion we can find two types of attitudes:

Moralistic attitude: It is characterized by a concern and dedication to the ethical and moral aspects of a situation or behavior. It allows us to respond ethically and morally to the dilemmas of life. Nihilistic attitude: unlike the previous one, this attitude rejects the moral and ethical principles of life. It leads us to see existence as lacking meaning and purpose.

Attitude also shapes our ethical and moral understandings of life. These types of attitudes of human beings allow them to exist in a community governed by basic principles of conduct.

5. According to the relationship with others

Attitudes can vary according to the way we interact with the people around us.. In this order of ideas, we can find different types. Let’s look at some of them:

Collaborative attitude: this us helps promote relationships and to jointly seek solutions to adversities. Promotes teamwork to achieve shared objectives.Manipulative attitude: this attitude leads us to consider others as an instrument or tool for our purposes.Aggressive attitude: It is a way of behavior based on provocation, offense and disrespect for others. Under this guide of conduct we can end up undervaluing people and passing over them.Passive attitude: At a relational level, these types of attitudes lead us not to take initiatives and wait for other people to do it. It can even lead to dependency.Assertive attitude: It is a type of attitude in that we defend our rights and principles without disrespecting anyone. It also helps us express ourselves without going over others.Permissive attitude: It can lead us to be people who tolerate transgression of the norm. It is an attitude in which we consent to things without offering resistance, even if it is harmful.Empathic attitude: Through this attitude, we open ourselves to the experience of others to understand their emotions, ideas and behaviors.Suspicious attitude: It is characterized by a distrust that can become generalized. It is generally associated with aggressive attitudes of a defensive nature. Sardonic attitude: it is a type of attitude focused on irony and sarcasm. It can turn us into people with biting behaviors.Trustworthy attitude: It makes people open and trustworthy to others. Submissive attitude: it is characterized by leading people to submit to the will of others, by leaving aside their own criteria and freedom. Emotional attitude: it is one of the types of human attitudes that predispose us to relate to others in an affectionate and emotional way.Rational attitude: It makes us relate to the world and others in a rational way, from intellect and logic.

Interpersonal relationships are also mediated by the attitude we have towards others. This not only predisposes us to act in a certain way towards a person, but it biases us and makes us evaluate their behavior based on our beliefs and expectations.

Are attitudes learned or inherited?

Attitudes have a large learning component. In our interaction with the context and with the experiences that we have accumulated over the years, we build certain positions towards life and the world. This learning can occur through association, reinforcement, observation or modeling.

There is also evidence that certain attitudes may have a genetic correlate that has favored our survival, such as fear of snakes or disgust at certain odors. In fact, according to Baron and Byrne in their book Social psychology, In identical twins, attitudes are correlated at higher levels than in twins…