Complete Summary and Solutions for Attitude and Social Cognition – NCERT Class XII Psychology, Chapter 6 – Explanation, Key Terms, Questions, and Answers
Detailed summary and explanation of Chapter 6 ‘Attitude and Social Cognition’ from the NCERT Class XII Psychology textbook, covering attitude formation, components, change, prejudice, discrimination, social behaviour, and strategies for handling prejudice—along with all key terms, project ideas, and NCERT questions with answers.
Updated: 5 days ago
Categories: NCERT, Class XII, Psychology, Chapter 6, Attitude and Social Cognition, Social Behaviour, Attitude Formation, Prejudice, Discrimination, Summary, Questions, Answers, Learning, Cognition
Tags: Attitude and Social Cognition, Psychology, NCERT, Class 12, Attitudes, Prejudice, Discrimination, Social Psychology, Behaviour, Cognitive Dissonance, Attitude Change, Social Influence, Summary, Explanation, Questions, Answers, Chapter 6, Class XII Psychology
Attitude and Social Cognition - Class 12 Psychology Chapter 6 Ultimate Study Guide 2025
Attitude and Social Cognition
Chapter 6: Psychology - Ultimate Study Guide | NCERT Class 12 Notes, Questions, Examples & Quiz 2025
Full Chapter Summary & Detailed Notes - Attitude and Social Cognition Class 12 NCERT
Overview & Key Concepts
Chapter Goal: Understand attitudes, their nature, components, formation, change, relationship with behavior, prejudice, discrimination, and strategies to handle prejudice. Exam Focus: A-B-C components, formation processes (association, reward/punishment, modelling, norms, information), change theories (balance, dissonance, two-step), prejudice sources. 2025 Updates: Links to social media influence on attitudes, modern prejudice (e.g., online bias), cognitive dissonance in misinformation. Fun Fact: Festinger's $20 lie experiment showed dissonance reduction. Core Idea: Attitudes as evaluative tendencies influencing behavior; interlinks to social influence (Ch7). Real-World: Green campaigns changing environmental attitudes. Expanded: All subtopics point-wise with evidence (e.g., Heider's P-O-X, Mohsin's two-step), examples (e.g., dowry imbalance), debates (e.g., consistency vs. inconsistency in attitudes).
Wider Scope: From common sense to psychological explanations; sources: Boxes (6.1 Green Environment, 6.2 Telling a Lie), activities (mental exercise on opinions).
Expanded Content: Include socio-cultural factors, role of media, psychometric vs. process-oriented change; multi-disciplinary (e.g., sociology in prejudice, cognition in attitudes).
Box 6.1: A ‘Green Environment’ : The A-B-C Components of an Attitude Description
Illustrates attitude with tree plantation: Cognitive (positive view), Affective (happy/sad emotions), Behavioural (participate). Diagram: Triangle with A-B-C interconnected; shows consistency or inconsistency.
Introduction
Social Psychology: Investigates behavior affected by others/social environment; forms attitudes about topics/people.
Social Behaviors: Seem simple but complex processes; explain beyond common sense/folk wisdom.
Expanded: Evidence: Social influences shape views; debates: Trait vs. situational; real: Group presence changes actions.
Explaining Social Behaviour
Social Behaviour: Necessary for human life; beyond mere company; actual/imagined/implied presence of others.
Attitudes: Views/behavioral tendencies from social influences; study social-cognitive processes/behavior.
Expanded: Evidence: Psychologists explain diverse behaviors; debates: Common sense limits; real: Attitudes guide new situations.
Nature and Components of Attitudes
Opinions to Attitudes: Opinions as thoughts; attitudes if emotional/action components; state of mind with evaluative feature (positive/negative/neutral).
P-O-X dowry; dissonance pan masala; prejudice sources.
Project & Group Ideas
Survey attitude change via media.
Debate: Is prejudice inevitable?
Role-play dissonance reduction.
Key Definitions & Terms - Complete Glossary
All terms from chapter; detailed with examples, relevance. Expanded: 40+ terms grouped by subtopic; added advanced like "P-O-X triangle", "Cognitive Dissonance".
Attitude
Set of views with evaluative feature. Ex: Positive toward green. Relevance: Influences behavior.
Own group favoritism. Ex: Us vs. them. Relevance: Conflict source.
Tip: Group by subtopic (nature/formation/change/prejudice); examples for recall. Depth: Debates (e.g., learned prejudice). Errors: Confuse beliefs/values. Historical: Heider/Festinger. Interlinks: To Ch7 influence. Advanced: Dissonance calcs. Real-Life: Media attitudes. Graphs: Valence scale. Coherent: Evidence → Interpretation. For easy learning: Flashcard per term with example.
60+ Questions & Answers - NCERT Based (Class 12) - From Exercises & Variations
Based on chapter + expansions. Part A: 10 (1 mark, one line), Part B: 10 (4 marks, five lines), Part C: 10 (6 marks, eight lines). Answers point-wise in black text.
Part A: 1 Mark Questions (10 Qs - Short)
1. What is an attitude?
1 Mark Answer:
A state of mind with evaluative features toward an object.
2. Name the three components of attitudes.
1 Mark Answer:
Affective, Behavioural, Cognitive (A-B-C).
3. What is valence in attitudes?
1 Mark Answer:
The positivity or negativity toward the object.
4. How are attitudes formed through association?
1 Mark Answer:
Linking positive qualities to the object.
5. What is cognitive dissonance?
1 Mark Answer:
Discomfort from inconsistent cognitions.
6. Define prejudice.
1 Mark Answer:
Negative attitude toward a group.
7. What is discrimination?
1 Mark Answer:
Negative behavior from prejudice.
8. Name one source of prejudice.
1 Mark Answer:
Social learning from elders.
9. What is the P-O-X triangle?
1 Mark Answer:
Heider's balance relations model.
10. What is centrality in attitudes?
1 Mark Answer:
Influence on other attitudes in system.
Part B: 4 Marks Questions (10 Qs - Medium, Exactly 5 Lines Each)
1. Explain the A-B-C components of attitudes.
4 Marks Answer:
Affective: Emotional aspect, like feeling happy or sad.
Behavioural: Tendency to act, such as participating.
Cognitive: Thoughts and beliefs, e.g., positive views.
Components consistent in direction usually.
Ex: Green environment positive all three.
2. Distinguish between beliefs and values.
4 Marks Answer:
Beliefs: Cognitive base, e.g., in democracy.
Values: Beliefs with should/ought, e.g., work hard.
Timeline of concepts/evolutions; expanded with points; links to pioneers/debates. Added Heider, Festinger focus.
Heider Era (1940s)
Balance theory P-O-X; relational consistency.
Attitude change pioneer.
Depth: Social perception.
Festinger (1950s)
Dissonance theory; experiment $20 lie.
Cognitive discomfort.
Depth: Internal motivation.
Mohsin (Indian, 1960s+)
Two-step identification/change.
Cultural context.
Depth: Source-target relation.
Prejudice Studies (1950s-70s)
Allport stereotypes; Sherif conflict.
Sources identified.
Depth: Group dynamics.
Modern (2000s+)
Media/social media change; online prejudice.
Implicit bias tests.
Depth: Digital influences.
Debates: Consistency vs. Inconsistency
Always change? vs. Tolerate dissonance.
Prejudice learned vs. innate.
Depth: What-if no balance.
Tip: Link Heider to modern networks, Festinger to misinformation. Depth: Boxes as historical reflection. Examples: 1957 dissonance. Graphs: Theory evolution timeline. Advanced: Post-2020 online attitudes. Easy: Bullets impacts.
Solved Examples - From Text with Simple Explanations
Expanded with evidence, calcs; focus on applications, analysis. Added theory comparisons, attitude scales.
Example 1: A-B-C in Green Attitude
Simple Explanation: Components interact.
Step 1: Cognitive positive info.
Step 2: Affective happy greenery.
Step 3: Behavioural plant trees.
Step 4: Inconsistency weak action.
Simple Way: Thoughts feel act align.
Example 2: P-O-X Dowry
Simple Explanation: Balance check.
Step 1: P+ X (like dowry).
Step 2: O- X (dislike).
Step 3: O+ P (like person).
Step 4: Imbalance; change one.
Simple Way: Relations harmony seek.
Example 3: Dissonance Pan Masala
Simple Explanation: Reduce discomfort.
Step 1: Harmful cognition I.
Step 2: Eat cognition II.
Step 3: Discomfort feel.
Step 4: Stop eating change II.
Simple Way: Tune out of sync fix.
Example 4: Prejudice Stereotype
Simple Explanation: Break bias.
Step 1: Generalize group trait.
Step 2: Kernel partial truth.
Step 3: Contact individualize.
Step 4: Reduce negative attitude.
Simple Way: Beyond labels see.
Example 5: Formation Media
Simple Explanation: Info shapes.
Step 1: Exposure ads/biographies.
Step 2: Strengthen cognitive/affective.
Step 3: Behavioural consumerist.
Step 4: Positive/negative influence.
Simple Way: Screens mold minds.
Example 6: Two-Step Influence
Simple Explanation: Identify change.
Step 1: Like source (teacher).
Step 2: Accept views (subject positive).
Step 3: Attitude shift.
Step 4: Regard prerequisite.
Simple Way: Trust then transform.
Tip: Practice self-assess; troubleshoot (e.g., why imbalance?). Added for change, prejudice.
Interactive Quiz - Master Attitude and Social Cognition
10 MCQs in full sentences; 80%+ goal. Covers components, formation, change, prejudice.
Quick Revision Notes & Mnemonics
Concise for all subtopics; mnemonics. Covers intro, explaining behaviour, nature/components, formation (processes/factors), change (processes), attitude-behaviour, prejudice/discrimination, strategies. Expanded all.
Introduction/Explaining Behaviour
Social psych others influence; attitudes views tendencies ( "SOT" - SOT). Beyond common sense ( "BCS" - BCS).