Factors Determining the Attitude Behavior Relationship

¶ … attitude influences behavior. The writer argues that one's attitude can influence one's behavior, regardless of the outcome. Negative attitudes bring forth negative or destructive behaviors, while positive attitudes bring on positive behaviors according to the author's research. There were three sources used to complete this paper.

The classified ads are filled with position announcements that read "Positive attitude need" or upbeat personality a plus." One only has to look on a dating service to see how many people are looking for and claiming to be "optimistic personalities." These elements are indicators of how important attitude is in society today. People who are upbeat and positive in their attitude tend to draw people to them. Those who are negative in attitude tend to push people away. The question then becomes, "Does attitude impact or effect behavior?" According to the field of psychology it does. One of the classic signs of major depression is a loss of energy or accomplishment. A loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities is another sign according to the diagnostic criteria. Attitude affects behavior in many ways and those behaviors create consequences that in turn effect attitude until the two become a revolving cycle pattern.

How Attitude Affects Behavior

Attitude has such a significant influence on behaviors that it can even impact the health of the person involved. A recent study of 60 police officers found that negative attitudes and stressful attitudes actually increased the incidence of illness and calling out on the job (Hammontree, 1992).

"Police stress was significantly associated with absenteeism. Further, hardy police officers with a high level of police stress tended to have a high level of absenteeism than hardy officers with a low level of police stress, whereas nonhardy officers experienced a high level of absenteeism regardless of their level of police stress. Implications concerning the results of this study are discussed (Hammontree, 1992). "

According to the study attitudes that allow stress to affect the person negatively had a negative impact on the behavior of that person. Depression, anxiety and illness were found to be much more prevalent in those who had negative and depressed attitudes about the job and life in general than was found in those officers who maintained an optimistic and upbeat attitude about life and the job.

Another area in which attitude has been tested against behavior to see what influence it has is the field of advertising. Marketing companies are paid to research the human psyche and discover what will make them purchase a product or service. Each year millions of dollars go into research to determine what attitude and behavior have in common so that the best advertising campaigns can be developed for those products or services the companies have for sale.

One model studies the attitude vs. behavior concept extensively.

"The BrandBuilder model provides a means of studying the brand loyalty construct that includes both its attitudinal and behavior components. It is based on the assumptions that all brands can be described behaviorally, that a series of survey questions can be employed in place of probability of purchase, and that consumer behaviors and attitudes towards brands can be linked (Rubinson, 1996)."

Psychologically speaking it is well-known that attitude influences behavior. One of the classic signs of depression is low energy. If one is severely depressed one often stops taking care of themselves. They stop showering, brushing their hair or caring how they look. In addition they may stop cleaning their house and let trash pile up all around them. People who are depressed have sad or negative attitudes, and those attitudes have a direct impact and influence on their behavior. When someone is severely depressed they also tend to withdraw. Whereas they may have been social creatures in the past they will lock themselves away, stop going out, possibly stop answering the phone and other withdrawal behaviors. These behaviors are caused by their depressed and sad attitude.

People who are angry in attitude tend to lash out. They may yell at someone, they may scream at someone or just be generally grumpy, but their attitudes impact and influence their behavior when they raise their voice, slam doors and do other things that display that angry attitude.

Upbeat attitudes work in exactly the opposite way. If one is upbeat and happy one finds that he or she has more energy and can take on more behaviors that are productive and fulfilling. Following hobbies, having high energy levels at work and other behaviors generally indicate that the person in question has an upbeat attitude.

This link between attitude and behavior is well know throughout all areas of life. Companies are constantly looking for ways to maintain a high employee morale. A high employee morale has been shown in studies to translate into increased and higher quality productivity.

Seminars are provided for management members to determine how to boost the attitude and morale of those they supervise so that absenteeism will drop and productivity will increase.

Additional studies have linked attitude in pregnancy to baby behaviors after birth. It has been shown that an expectant mother that has an upbeat happy attitude about life and the pregnancy will deliver a baby that has happy characteristics.