Day 20 – Q 2.What are the adaptive functions of one’s attitude? Illustrate.

2. What are the adaptive functions of one’s attitude? Illustrate.  

किसी के रवैये के अनुकूली कार्य क्या हैं? उदाहरण देकर स्पष्ट करें।

Introduction:

An attitude is “a relatively enduring organization of beliefs, feelings, and behavioral tendencies towards socially significant objects, groups, events or symbols”. Adaptive functions refer to those skills that are necessary for us to navigate through the demands that are placed on us by our environments in a way that is effective.

Body

Adaptation means adjustment. Adaptive functions of one’s attitude includes the ability to work, practice social skills, and take personal responsibility. Thus, attitudes enable a person to adjust to the outside environment. To elaborate, it helps a person to modify his traits, actions to suit the needs of outside environment. If a person holds and/or expresses socially acceptable attitudes, other people will reward them with approval and social acceptance. Attitudes then, are to do with being a part of a social group and the adaptive functions help us fit in with a social group. People seek out others who share their attitudes, and develop similar attitudes to those they like.

Illustration

• Attitudes often help people to adjust to their work environment. When employees are well treated, they are likely to develop a positive attitude towards management and the organization. When employees are criticized and given a minimal salary, they are likely to develop a negative attitude towards management and the organization. These attitudes help employees adjust to their environment and are a basis for future behavior. The adjustment function directs people towards pleasurable or rewarding objects and away from unpleasant, undesirable ones. It serves the utilitarian concept of maximizing reward and minimizing punishment. 
• Suppose I shift to other country for temporarily due to my job demand, the country where I shift is almost non-veg consumers I being a vegetarian it will be hard to find vegetarian food there. In that case if I detest with non-veg food then I have to live on empty stomach. Here my attitude will be in conflict with the needs of the outside environment. Here I need to change my attitude thinking that there is nothing wrong in eating non-vegetarian food and in fact non-veg food will be tastier, then only I can adopt to that environment.

Conclusion

The most important function of an attitude can only be ascertained by considering it in relation to the person who holds it and the environment in which they operate. Consequently, what is apparently the same attitude may serve rather different purposes depending on who holds it and where/when it becomes salient to them.