essay about attitude change

Essays About Attitude: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts

Your attitude and demeanor affect all aspects of your life. We have found an inspiring list of essays about attitude to help you choose your own angle.

Attitude refers to a person’s way of thinking about something that affects their behavior. One can say that the proper attitude is vital to leading a fruitful life, whatever that might be for specific individuals. A “good” attitude and a positive outlook can better ascertain success, while a “bad” attitude predisposes a person to fail.

One’s attitude is founded upon knowledge, beliefs, and feelings and reflected in behavior. However, it is also shaped by your experiences.

If you want to write an essay about attitude, here are 5 essay examples and 5 prompts we have prepared to make the process easier for you. 

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

1. Attitude changes everything – it can change your life by Kate Darbyshire Evans

2. 6 ways to banish negative thoughts by emily co, 3. our life is a reflection of our attitude. by iqra shehzadi, 4. watch your attitude: your students are counting on you by amber chandler, 5. how to develop a positive attitude in the workplace by jennifer post, 5 writing prompts on essays about attitude, 1. why is a good attitude so important, 2. how can you change your attitude for the better, 3. is a bad attitude really as detrimental as it is said to be, 4. how has your attitude affected your life, 5. does attitude reflect character.

“Attitude changes everything. Change your attitude, and you can change your life. You cannot always control what happens to you in life but you can always control how you respond to the challenges or difficult situations you encounter. The attitude you approach anything with is entirely your choice. The way you choose to respond mirrors your attitude and so by changing your attitude you can change your perspective and change your life.”

Evans talks about how genuinely present one’s attitude is in the different aspects of their life. It can, quite literally, “change your life.” Regardless of your challenges, Evans believes that a positive attitude can help you steady your course and maintain a good life. She also gives readers tips on developing a good attitude and a more positive outlook on life, including being more grateful, not taking life too seriously, and stepping out of your comfort zone. 

“It’s easy to become jaded when life gets tough, but don’t get caught up in negative thoughts because it may hinder your progress. Seeing the world as a glass half empty may lead you to give up easier and not try as hard because you may think that it’s pointless to even make an attempt.”  

In this short essay, Co lists down a few ways in which we can maintain a positive attitude by keeping negative thoughts out of our minds. These include keeping a gratitude journal, keeping good company, being around animals, and looking for new hobbies. Co believes these activities help promote positivity so that we are not as affected when life gets challenging. You might also be interested in these essays about discipline .

“Our mind has sufficient bandwidth to focus on one thought at a time. All you must do is keep it attentive on inspiring thoughts until you achieve your goal or establish a new habit. After adopting a positive attitude, I have noticed amazing changes all around. I also have noticed a major boost in my confidence and I feel more capable of taking on new projects and challenges which might have formerly been outside my comfort zone.”

Shehzadi reflects on the importance of a positive attitude. She briefly goes over its benefits, like increased confidence and reduced stress. To develop a better attitude, surround yourself with positive people. From there, you can practice kindness, patience, and tolerance. As our attitude reflects itself in how we live, a positive attitude leads to a more productive life. Training your mind to be positive is an excellent investment for your well-being, both mentally and physically. 

“It’s human nature to express ourselves, sure, but I think adults underestimate the impact our ‘attitudes’ have on our own children and students. As we deal with the new variants, head back to school and face another uncertain school year, our attitudes are going to shape the experiences of our students. Why not make a concerted, intentional effort to be the one place where your students can let their guard down and take a break from the attitudes that are everywhere?”

Chandler, an educator, discusses the importance of the right attitude in an environment with kids and the importance of setting a good example. She believes that an authentic, positive attitude helps students thrive, but she also stresses the importance of empathy. To her, the ideal attitude is positive, practical, humble, and empathetic. She wants adults to be more mindful of their attitude, especially in front of kids- they may have certain mannerisms or habits that children will quickly pick up on.

“Not everyone is going to be positive all the time. That’s an unrealistic idea. But even when people are down and at their most negative, there are things one can do to deal with those emotions and actions around the office to keep them from impacting others. Even if it’s just one co-worker causing an issue, take matters into your own hands for your own happiness at work.”

Post’s essay elaborates on the importance of having an attitude suited to your work. Like in Co’s essay, Post discusses certain things we can do to improve our attitude and make us more productive in the workplace. Most significantly, she says that simply saying “yes” more can help develop a better attitude. Even if we cannot always be positive, Post wants us to maximize the positivity in every situation, to look at it from a “glass half full” perspective.

Everyone talks about how the proper attitude helps you go far in life, but how does this work? In your essay, you can explore what makes attitude so vital. You can find examples where people have improved their attitude and attribute it to real-life benefits such as happiness or success. You can also check out these essays about character .

Many people often talk about fixing their attitude and getting out of bad habits. You can use the sample essays to decide which methods you can adopt to improve your attitude. Keep your selection short, simple, and meaningful. Do you think they could be successfully applied to anyone?

Would you say that a good attitude is as important as people say it is? And does a bad attitude indeed dictates one’s fortune or misfortune? Based on research and your own beliefs, decide on your position and provide evidence to support your argument.

Write about something as simple as the effects of your attitude on your life. How does your outlook on life affect you? Do you feel that your attitude is helping you live your life well? Do you think there is anything that you can change to optimize your daily life? Try and provide examples of when a different attitude may have produced a different outcome in a scenario.

Often people are told they have a bad attitude and are misjudged for it. However, is their attitude a true reflection of their character or simply masking a hidden agenda? Think of examples when people may be misjudged by their attitude, or perhaps their behavior was misconstrued, and discuss how difficult it is to remedy this after the event. There are numerous examples of this in literature that you can reference. If you cannot think of a real-life example pick one from an appropriate piece and discuss the character’s attitude, and others’ perceptions of them.

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

Essay Curve

Essay on Attitude – Examples, 10 Lines to 1200 Words

Essay on Attitude: Attitude plays a crucial role in shaping our thoughts, actions, and ultimately our success in life. It is the lens through which we view the world and can greatly impact our relationships, work ethic, and overall well-being. In this essay, we will explore the importance of attitude, how it can be cultivated and maintained, and the ways in which a positive attitude can lead to personal growth and fulfillment. Join me as we delve into the power of attitude and its profound influence on our lives.

Table of Contents

Attitude Essay Writing Tips

1. Start by defining what attitude is and why it is important in shaping our behavior and outlook towards life. Attitude can be defined as a mental and emotional state that influences our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

2. Discuss the different types of attitudes that people can have, such as positive, negative, optimistic, pessimistic, etc. Explain how these attitudes can impact our relationships, work performance, and overall well-being.

3. Share personal anecdotes or examples to illustrate the power of attitude in overcoming challenges and achieving success. Highlight how a positive attitude can help us navigate through difficult situations and maintain a sense of resilience.

4. Emphasize the role of attitude in shaping our perceptions and interpretations of the world around us. Our attitude can influence how we perceive opportunities, setbacks, and interactions with others.

5. Discuss the importance of cultivating a growth mindset and adopting a positive attitude towards learning and personal development. A growth mindset allows us to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and continuously improve ourselves.

6. Address the impact of external factors, such as environment, upbringing, and experiences, on shaping our attitudes. Acknowledge that our attitudes are not fixed and can be changed through conscious effort and self-reflection.

7. Provide practical tips for developing a positive attitude, such as practicing gratitude, surrounding yourself with supportive and positive people, setting realistic goals, and engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment.

8. Discuss the benefits of having a positive attitude, such as improved mental health, increased resilience, better relationships, and enhanced overall well-being. Highlight how a positive attitude can lead to greater success and fulfillment in various aspects of life.

9. Conclude the essay by emphasizing the importance of cultivating a positive attitude as a key factor in achieving personal growth, happiness, and success. Encourage readers to reflect on their own attitudes and consider making positive changes to enhance their quality of life.

Essay on Attitude in 10 Lines – Examples

1. Attitude is a way of thinking, feeling, and behaving that reflects a person’s beliefs and values. 2. It can be positive or negative, influencing how a person approaches challenges and interacts with others. 3. A positive attitude can lead to greater success, happiness, and overall well-being. 4. On the other hand, a negative attitude can hinder progress and create barriers to personal growth. 5. Attitude is often shaped by past experiences, upbringing, and social influences. 6. It can be changed and improved through self-awareness, mindfulness, and intentional effort. 7. Attitude plays a significant role in determining one’s outlook on life and ability to overcome obstacles. 8. It can impact relationships, career opportunities, and overall quality of life. 9. Cultivating a positive attitude can lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying life. 10. Ultimately, attitude is a choice that individuals can make each day to shape their own reality.

Sample Essay on Attitude in 100-180 Words

Attitude plays a crucial role in shaping our thoughts, actions, and ultimately our lives. It is our attitude that determines how we perceive and respond to the world around us. A positive attitude can lead to success, happiness, and fulfillment, while a negative attitude can hinder our progress and hold us back from reaching our full potential.

Having a positive attitude can help us overcome challenges, stay motivated, and maintain a sense of optimism even in difficult times. It allows us to approach situations with a growth mindset, learn from failures, and keep moving forward. On the other hand, a negative attitude can breed self-doubt, fear, and a defeatist mentality that can prevent us from taking risks and pursuing our goals.

Ultimately, our attitude is a choice that we make every day. By cultivating a positive attitude, we can create a more fulfilling and successful life for ourselves.

Short Essay on Attitude in 200-500 Words

Attitude is a powerful force that shapes our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It is the way we approach life and the way we respond to the challenges and opportunities that come our way. Our attitude can have a significant impact on our success, happiness, and overall well-being.

One of the key aspects of attitude is positivity. A positive attitude can help us see the good in every situation, even when things are not going as planned. It allows us to focus on solutions rather than problems, and to approach challenges with a sense of optimism and resilience. People with a positive attitude are more likely to be successful in their endeavors, as they are able to maintain a sense of motivation and determination even in the face of setbacks.

On the other hand, a negative attitude can be detrimental to our well-being. It can lead to feelings of frustration, anger, and hopelessness, which can hinder our ability to overcome obstacles and achieve our goals. A negative attitude can also affect our relationships with others, as it can make us more prone to conflict and misunderstandings.

Our attitude is not only influenced by external factors, such as our environment and the people around us, but also by our internal beliefs and perceptions. It is important to be aware of our attitudes and to actively work on cultivating a positive mindset. This can be done through practices such as mindfulness, gratitude, and self-reflection.

In addition to positivity, another important aspect of attitude is resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity and to adapt to change. It is a key trait that can help us navigate the ups and downs of life with grace and strength. People with a resilient attitude are able to learn from their mistakes, grow from their experiences, and emerge stronger and more resilient than before.

In conclusion, attitude plays a crucial role in shaping our lives and our experiences. A positive attitude can help us overcome obstacles, achieve our goals, and maintain healthy relationships with others. On the other hand, a negative attitude can hold us back and prevent us from reaching our full potential. It is important to be mindful of our attitudes and to actively work on cultivating a positive and resilient mindset. By doing so, we can lead a more fulfilling and successful life.

Essay on Attitude in 1000-1500 Words

Attitude is a complex and multifaceted concept that plays a crucial role in shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. It is often described as a mental and emotional state that influences how we perceive and interact with the world around us. Our attitude can determine our success, happiness, and overall well-being. In this essay, we will explore the importance of attitude, how it is formed, and ways in which we can cultivate a positive attitude in our lives.

Attitude is a powerful force that can either propel us towards success or hold us back from reaching our full potential. Our attitude is reflected in our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors, and it can have a profound impact on our relationships, career, and overall quality of life. A positive attitude is characterized by optimism, resilience, and a willingness to learn and grow from challenges. On the other hand, a negative attitude is marked by pessimism, self-doubt, and a tendency to focus on obstacles rather than opportunities.

Our attitude is shaped by a variety of factors, including our upbringing, experiences, and the people we surround ourselves with. Our childhood experiences, in particular, can have a lasting impact on our attitude towards life. For example, children who grow up in a supportive and nurturing environment are more likely to develop a positive attitude, while those who experience trauma or neglect may struggle to maintain a positive outlook.

Our experiences also play a significant role in shaping our attitude. Positive experiences can reinforce a positive attitude, while negative experiences can lead to feelings of resentment, anger, or hopelessness. The people we interact with on a daily basis can also influence our attitude. Surrounding ourselves with positive, supportive individuals can help us maintain a positive attitude, while negative or toxic relationships can drag us down and foster a negative mindset.

Despite the many factors that can influence our attitude, it is ultimately up to us to choose how we respond to the challenges and opportunities that come our way. Cultivating a positive attitude requires self-awareness, mindfulness, and a willingness to challenge negative thought patterns. By adopting a growth mindset and focusing on our strengths and abilities, we can overcome obstacles and achieve our goals.

One of the key components of a positive attitude is resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and adversity, and it is a crucial trait for success in both personal and professional life. Resilient individuals are able to maintain a positive attitude in the face of challenges, and they view setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning. By developing resilience, we can cultivate a positive attitude that will help us navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and confidence.

Another important aspect of a positive attitude is gratitude. Gratitude is the practice of acknowledging and appreciating the good things in our lives, no matter how small. By cultivating a sense of gratitude, we can shift our focus from what is lacking to what we have, and we can cultivate a positive attitude that is grounded in appreciation and abundance. Gratitude has been linked to numerous benefits, including improved mental health, increased resilience, and greater overall well-being.

In addition to resilience and gratitude, self-care is another important component of a positive attitude. Self-care involves taking care of our physical, emotional, and mental well-being, and it is essential for maintaining a positive attitude. By prioritizing self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, and spending time with loved ones, we can recharge our batteries and cultivate a positive attitude that will help us face life’s challenges with strength and resilience.

In conclusion, attitude is a powerful force that can shape our thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. A positive attitude is characterized by optimism, resilience, and a willingness to learn and grow from challenges. By cultivating resilience, gratitude, and self-care, we can develop a positive attitude that will help us navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and confidence. Ultimately, our attitude is a choice, and by choosing to adopt a positive mindset, we can create a life that is filled with joy, fulfillment, and success.

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• A-Z Publications

Annual Review of Psychology

Volume 69, 2018, review article, attitudes and attitude change.

• Dolores Albarracin 1 , and Sharon Shavitt 1
• View Affiliations Hide Affiliations Affiliations: Department of Psychology and Department of Business Administration, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois 61822; email: [email protected] , [email protected]
• Vol. 69:299-327 (Volume publication date January 2018) https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-122216-011911
• First published as a Review in Advance on August 25, 2017
• © Annual Reviews

This review covers research on attitudes and attitude change published between 2010 and 2017. We characterize this period as one of significant progress toward an understanding of how attitudes form and change in three critical contexts. The first context is the person, as attitudes change in connection to values, general goals, language, emotions, and human development. The second context is social relationships, which link attitude change to the communicator of persuasive messages, social media, and culture. The third context is sociohistorical and highlights the influence of unique events, including sociopolitical, economic, and climatic occurrences. In conclusion, many important recent findings reflect the fact that holism, with a focus on situating attitudes within their personal, social, and historical contexts, has become the zeitgeist of attitude research during this period.

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The Components of Attitude

Formation of an Attitude and How It Can Be Changed

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Overview of Attitude

Attitude formation, attitudes impact on behavior, why attitudes change.

In psychology, an attitude refers to a set of emotions, beliefs, and behaviors toward a particular object, person, thing, or event. Attitude can also be described as the way we evaluate something or someone. For example, we tend to respond positively or negatively about certain subjects.

We can summarize the main components of attitude which are a collection of our thoughts, feelings, and actions in a given scenario. They are formed as a result of our life experiences, upbringing, education, and social influences.

Our positive and negative attitudes can have a powerful influence on our behavior in various situations. While attitudes are often enduring, they can also change. Read on to discover more about the formation of attitudes and what factors are required for a change of heart .

Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell 

To understand the meaning of attitudes, it can be helpful to look at a few different examples. Consider what your attitude is about the following:

• The death penalty
• Which political party does a better job of running the country
• Whether prayer should be allowed in schools
• Whether violence on television should be regulated

Chances are that you probably have fairly strong opinions on these and other similar topics. You've developed a passionate inner response about such issues, which can influence how you feel, what you do, and how you interact with people.

Attitudes are an important topic of study within the field of social psychology . But what exactly is an attitude? How does it develop? 

How Psychologists Define Attitudes

Psychologists define attitudes as a learned tendency to view and judge things in a certain way. This can include an evaluation of people, issues, objects, policies, or events. It is an umbrella term that consists of our opinions, emotions, perceptions, beliefs, expectations, values, and intentions.

Such dispositions are often positive or negative, but they can also be uncertain or neutral at times. For example, you might have mixed feelings about a particular person or issue.

Researchers also suggest that there are three main dimensions that make up our attitudes. The components of attitudes are sometimes referred to as the ABC's of attitude.

3 Components of Attitude

• Affective Component:  How the object, person, issue, or event makes you feel.
• Behavioral Component:  How you respond to someone or something that elicits a set of feelings and beliefs. This can be a verbal or a physical response.
• Cognitive Component:  Your perception, ideas, and beliefs about the subject matter.

Attitudes can also be explicit and implicit.

• Explicit attitudes are those that we are consciously aware of and that clearly influence our emotional and behavioral reactions.
• Implicit attitudes are unconscious but still impact our emotions and behaviors.

Several factors can influence how and why attitudes form, including:

Attitudes form directly as a result of personal experience with people, situations, objects, and ideologies. For example, you may experience a social interaction in a favorable way and form a positive attitude about that person, family, or group. On the other hand, you may have an unpleasant encounter that influences an unfavorable attitude.

Attitudes can be learned in a variety of ways.

• Classical Conditioning : Consider how advertisers use classical conditioning to influence your attitude toward a particular product. In a television commercial, you see young, beautiful people having fun on a tropical beach while enjoying a sports drink. This attractive and appealing imagery causes you to develop a positive association with this particular beverage.
• Operant conditioning : Consider how rewards and punishments can influence our attitudes (known as operant conditioning ). Imagine a young man who has just started smoking. Whenever he lights up a cigarette, people complain, chastise him, and ask him to leave their vicinity. This negative feedback from those around him eventually causes him to develop an unfavorable opinion of smoking and he decides to give up the habit.
• Observational learning : Finally, people learn attitudes by observing people around them. When someone you admire greatly espouses a particular attitude, you are more likely to develop the same beliefs. For example, children spend a great deal of time observing the attitudes of their parents and usually begin to demonstrate similar outlooks. In addition, social media is having a profound influence on our attitudes as we are exposed to a variety of social media influencers.

Social and Cultural Factors

Social roles and cultural norms can have a strong influence on attitudes. Social roles relate to how people are expected to behave in a particular role or context. Cultural norms involve society's rules for what behaviors are considered appropriate.

Attitudes can form through direct experience, observations, formal education, conditioning processes, and social/cultural factors.

We tend to assume that people behave according to their attitudes. However, social psychologists have found that attitudes and actual behavior are not always perfectly aligned.

After all, plenty of people support a particular candidate or political party yet fail to vote. Some situations may evoke a strong passionate response, but the environment calls for self-control, professionalism, grace, and poise no matter how upset you may feel.

Essentially, people are more likely to behave according to their attitudes under certain conditions mitigated by personal values and social expectations.

Factors Influencing Attitude Strength

• You are an expert on the subject
• You experience something personally
• You expect a favorable outcome
• You stand to lose something due to the issue
• You have passion about the subject
• You are comfortable expressing your opinions

While attitudes can have a powerful effect on behavior, they are not set in stone. The same influences that lead to attitude formation can also create attitude change.

Learning Theory

Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning can be used to bring about attitude change.

• Classical conditioning can be used to create positive emotional reactions to an object, person, or event by associating positive feelings with the target object.
• Operant conditioning can be used to strengthen desirable attitudes and weaken undesirable ones.
• People can also change their attitudes after observing the behavior of others.

Elaboration Likelihood Theory

This theory of persuasion suggests that people can alter their attitudes in two ways.

• They can be motivated to listen to an elaborate explanation and think about the message (central route persuasion), thus leading to an attitude shift.
• They might be influenced by the likable characteristics of the speaker (peripheral route persuasion), leading to a temporary or surface shift in attitude.

Messages that are thought-provoking and that appeal to logic are more likely to lead to permanent changes in attitudes.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

In some cases, people may alter their attitudes to better align them with their current behaviors. Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon in which a person experiences psychological distress due to conflicting beliefs and behaviors. To reduce this tension, people may change their attitudes to match their actual behaviors or alter their behavior to be more congruent with their beliefs.

In order to minimize the cognitive dissonance between your conflicting attitude and behavior, you either have to change the attitude or change your actions.

Imagine the following situation: You've always placed a high value on financial security, but you start dating someone very financially unstable. You have two options to reduce the tension caused by conflicting beliefs and behavior. You can end the relationship and seek a more financially secure partner, or you can de-emphasize the importance of fiscal stability and focus on other important character traits instead.

Attitudes are not set in stone and may change when people learn new information, when they are persuaded by influential people, or when they experience discomfort due to holding conflicting beliefs.

Final Thoughts

Attitudes play a pivotal role in shaping human behavior, from the choices people make about living their lives to the health behaviors they engage in daily. Understanding where these attitudes come from and how they sometimes change can help you look for ways to improve your attitudes, whether it means adopting a more positive outlook on life or changing your opinion based on new information.

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Jain V. 3D model of attitude . International Journal of Advanced Research in Management and Social Sciences . 2014; 3(3):1-12.

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American Psychological Association.  Teaching tip sheet: Attitudes and behavior change . 

Perlovsky L.  A challenge to human evolution—cognitive dissonance .  Frontiers in Psychology . 2013;4. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00179

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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“Our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world as being able to remake ourselves.” ~Gandhi

It was 1999 and my life stunk. I had failed miserably as a missionary for my church, I’d been sent to a mental hospital and diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and I was in the process of losing the woman I thought I was going to marry.

I was in bad shape, and didn’t have a clue as to how I could right the ship, so to speak.

Now, 13 years later, I have a great job that provides for me and my family. I have a beautiful wife, two lovely children (with another on the way!), and plenty of free time to pursue the hobbies I enjoy. I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and thanks to a few tiny little pills I take every day, I also enjoy good physical and mental health.

I don’t want to leave you with the impression that everything changed completely overnight. It didn’t.

To deal with the loss of my girlfriend I did some therapy; I put myself back on the market and did a lot of dating; I consciously chose to let go of what I thought should happen and accept what had happened. Slowly, I healed until one day I realized that I was open to loving fully again.

Dealing with my mental illness is a challenge that continues to this day. I’ve put in place the foundation for good mental health by accepting the fact that I will need to be medicated for the rest of my life.

After making that choice, there has still been an endless parade of medications as we try to find the right cocktail for me. And even with the medications, I still have good times and bad. The medication, I’ve found, is a tool and not a panacea.

Making these outward choices has really helped, but there is one thing that really changed everything for me: I changed my attitude.

What caused that change? I read a book called Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl.

Frankl was a neurologist and psychiatrist who was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. He was forced to work as a slave laborer and watch as many of his peers died slow, miserable deaths.

He was separated from his own wife, mother, and father, and lost them all before the war ended. But what did Frankl learn from his time in the concentration camp? Here’s what he had to say:

“Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances…”

When I read those words, something clicked inside of me. I intuitively knew that they were true, and I knew that I needed to learn how to give myself an attitude adjustment if I wanted to have any measure of peace in this world. So I began to study.

I read everything I could get my hands on that had anything to do with personal development, and I began to notice patterns in the books I was consuming.

Over time, the patterns became clearer and clearer until I was able to identify 10 “rules” of happy living.

I call these rules The Ten Principles of Personal Development. They are, in no particular order:

• Be loving toward everyone you meet.
• Forgive all who attempt to harm you.
• You become what you think.
• Look for ways to strengthen those who have less than you have.
• Always seek knowledge and truth.
• Always be honest.
• Never waste what you are given.
• Be grateful for all that you have.
• Develop a spirit of optimism.
• Have faith in something greater than yourself.

Once I identified the Ten Principles, I needed a way to make them a part of my life. So I studied some more. What I found is that the best way to make something a part of your life is to set a goal and follow through on it.

So I began to set one goal a month, doing my best to live one of the principles for 30 days or so. I used The EASIER Method of Goal Achievement to pursue my goals.

If you were trying to be more grateful using the EASIER method, you would:

• Envision yourself being grateful for everything that was given to you throughout the day.
• Assess your current levels of gratitude. In what situations do you easily express your gratitude? In what situations do you struggle?
• Create a strategy that will allow you to be grateful more often.
• Implement your strategy.
• Evaluate your progress as you go through the day’s activities.
• Report your progress to someone you love and trust.

The impact of my decision to live the Ten Principles was monumental. The more I tried to live the principles, the better I felt. The better I felt, the more I wanted to live the principles. I had created a positive feedback loop that was self-reinforcing.

There were still challenges in my life, of course; now, however, I was able to tackle them with a positive attitude, and that seemed to make all the difference. Little by little my attitude improved, and as my attitude improved, I began to enjoy my life more and more.

We all go through difficult situations in life. If you’re in a tough place right now, choose one of the principles above and set a goal to practice it as well as you can over the next month.

This might not immediately change your circumstances, but you will likely find that changing your attitude slowly but surely changes your life.

Photo by h.koppdelaney

About Justin Riggs

Justin loves talking, writing, and thinking about how we can best use our time on this earth. Visit his blog at http://denvergoals.wordpress.com to learn how to transform your life and download your free copy of his e-book, Success! A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Achieve Your Goals and Dreams.

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Attitude Change

Attitude change definition.

Attitudes are general evaluations of objects, ideas, and people one encounters throughout one’s life (e.g., “capital punishment is bad”). Attitudes are important because they can guide thought, behavior, and feelings. Attitude change occurs anytime an attitude is modified. Thus, change occurs when a person goes from being positive to negative, from slightly positive to very positive, or from having no attitude to having one. Because of the functional value of attitudes, the processes that change them have been a major focus throughout the history of social psychology.

Dual Process Approach to Attitude Change

According to dual process models of attitude change, research on this topic can be organized according to two general types of processes: (1) those that occur when one puts forth relatively little cognitive effort, and (2) those that occur with relatively high cognitive effort. The amount of thought and effort used in any given situation is determined by many variables, all of which affect one’s motivation or ability to think. Some examples include one’s personal preference for engaging in complex thought, the personal relevance of the attitude object, and the amount of distraction present while attempting to think. Furthermore, both high- and low-effort processes can operate whether or not a persuasive message is presented.

Low-Effort Processes

When factors keep one’s motivation and/or ability to think low (such as when the issue is not personally relevant or there are many distractions present), attitude change can be produced by a variety of low-effort processes. These include some largely automatic associative processes as well as simple inferential processes.

Associative Processes

Classical Conditioning . One way to produce attitude change in the absence of effortful thought is to repeatedly associate an initially neutral attitude object with another stimulus that already possesses a positive or negative meaning. For example, imagine that every time you saw your uncle as a child he took you to the zoo. Assuming you enjoy going to the zoo, you will likely start to feel more positively toward your uncle. If, instead, every time you saw him he took you to the doctor to get your immunization shots, the opposite result is more likely. Although research on this process has demonstrated that it is most effective for previously neutral stimuli (such as novel words or objects), significant attitude change has also been found for positive and negative attitude objects as well. One series of studies found that repeatedly pairing words related to the self (e.g., I and me) with positive stimuli caused significant increases in a later measure of participants’ self-esteem. Thus, continually associating an attitude object or message with something you already like (e.g., an attractive source) can lead to positive attitudes.

Affective Priming . Another process that involves the association of two stimuli is called affective priming. In this process a positive or negative stimulus (e.g., words such as love or murder) is encountered just prior to a novel attitude object (rather than following it, as occurs in classical conditioning). When this happens, one’s reaction to the positive or negative stimulus will come to color the evaluation of the new object, producing attitude change. Imagine, for instance, that you are at an unfamiliar restaurant and are about to try a totally new dish. If this meal is brought to you by a very attractive waiter or waitress, your positive reaction toward this server is likely to influence your initial attitude toward the food. Although this attitude may change as you interact with the attitude object (i.e., when you eat the food), the initial positive evaluation will make it more likely that your final attitude is also positive.

Mere Exposure . In both of the processes discussed so far, an attitude is altered by the attitude object’s association with a positive or negative stimulus. In contrast, research on the mere exposure effect has found that repeated exposure to an object in the absence of association can also change attitudes. Quite simply, this process requires only that one is repeatedly exposed to an attitude object. When this occurs, the attitude toward the object becomes more positive; possibly due to the fact that the object has actually become associated with the absence of anything negative. The strongest mere exposure effects occur when the repeated attitude object is low in meaning (e.g., novel) or is presented outside of conscious awareness. One intriguing implication of this phenomenon is that mere exposure might help to account for the preference a newborn infant shows for his or her mother’s voice. As the child develops in the womb, one stimulus that is repeated every day is the mother’s voice. Thus, mere exposure to this stimulus should cause the child’s attitude toward the voice (and subsequently its source) to become positive, enhancing the mother-child bond.

Inferential Processes

Balance . One simple inferential process of attitude change involves cognitive balance. Stated simply, balance is achieved when people agree with those they like and disagree with those they dislike. When this is not the case, one experiences a state of unease, and attitudes are likely to shift to bring the system into balance. For instance, suppose you discover that you and your worst enemy both love the same band. When this occurs, you are likely to experience an uncomfortable state of imbalance, and to rectify this inconsistency, one of your attitudes will likely change. Thus, upon learning the information, you may come to find your previous enemy much less distasteful or, alternatively, feel less positively toward the band.

Attribution . At its most general level, attribution concerns the inferences that people make about themselves and others after witnessing a behavior and the situation in which it occurred. Although this topic is highly studied in and of itself, its research has also outlined a number of processes that can create low-effort attitude change. One attributional process, which occurs when people are not well attuned to their own beliefs, is self-perception. In this process, people infer their own attitudes from their behaviors, just as they would for someone else. Thus, people can infer that if they are eating a peach or watching a pro-peach advertisement, they must like peaches, even if they hadn’t considered this possibility before. When this inference is made, it produces attitude change, making their attitude toward peaches more positive.

In a related phenomenon, called the overjustification effect, people come to infer that they dislike a previously enjoyed activity when they are provided with overly sufficient rewards for engaging in it. Research has demonstrated this effect by providing children with candy or other rewards for engaging in an activity they had previously performed merely for its own sake (e.g., coloring). When this happens, the children infer that they were performing the activity for the reward, not for its mere enjoyment, and their attitude toward engaging in the behavior becomes less positive.

Heuristics . One final process through which low-effort attitude change can occur is through the use of heuristics, or simple decision rules based on prior experiences or observations. Although there are countless heuristics, some examples are “experts are usually correct” and “bigger is better.” When motivation and ability to think are low, people can use simple rules like these to form evaluations. For instance, in deciding what new music is good, someone might simply walk over to the bestseller section at the local music store and survey the current top selections. By basing their opinions on the rule that “the majority is usually right,” they establish positive attitudes toward those artists they discover in this section and avoid more effortful (and costly) processes such as critically listening to each performer’s music. Or, instead of thinking carefully about all of the arguments in a persuasive message about a new pain reliever, a person might simply count the arguments and reason, “the more arguments, the better.”

High-Effort Processes

There are also attitude change processes that require a greater use of mental resources. When a person is motivated and able to invest high effort in making a judgment about an issue or object, attitude change can occur due to characteristics of his or her thoughts (e.g., whether the thoughts are favorable or unfavorable), his or her estimation that good or bad outcomes will be tied to the attitude object, or the person’s realization that he or she holds conflicting beliefs about a set of attitude objects.

Cognitive Responses . When people’s attitudes change through the use of high cognitive effort, some of the most important aspects to consider are their actual thoughts (cognitive responses) toward the attitude object and any persuasive message that is received on the topic. Although there are a number of different aspects to consider, three components of thought have proven especially important in producing change. The first, and most obvious, is whether thoughts about the attitude object or message are largely favorable or unfavorable. By examining the ratio of positive to negative thoughts, the likely amount of attitude change produced can be approximated. If there is a greater proportion of favorable than unfavorable thoughts, your attitude will change in a positive direction. The opposite is true if there is a greater proportion of negative thoughts. A second important dimension concerns how much thinking is done. For example, the more positive thoughts one has about an attitude object, the more favorable the attitudes will be. The third, and final, aspect of thought is related to confidence. When thinking about an attitude object or persuasive message, people will have varying confidence in each of their discrete thoughts. To the extent that they are highly confident in a thought, it will have a great impact on their final attitude. Those thoughts that are associated with low confidence, however, will play a relatively minor role in any attitude change. Many things can affect one’s confidence in a thought, such as how easily it comes to mind.

Although these three factors are easy to imagine operating in traditional persuasion settings (e.g., when you view an advertisement for some commercial product), they also influence attitude change in the absence of any persuasive message. One way in which this occurs is when people role play, or imagine what someone else would think about an issue. Imagine, for instance, that you enjoy smoking cigarettes. Now, generate as many reasons as you can to stop smoking. Because of the cognitive responses you’ve created by engaging in this process, you may change your own attitudes toward smoking. As you can probably guess, the more thought and effort you put into the role play, the more likely it is that attitude change will occur. If you did put a great deal of effort into the exercise, then you’ve probably created a number of negative thoughts about smoking tobacco. In this case, you might expect that your attitude has become more negative toward smoking. This may or may not be true, however, depending on the confidence you have in the thoughts that were produced. If you generated a large number of antismoking thoughts but had low confidence in the validity of each one, then they would have very little impact on your attitude, especially if they were countered by some very positive thoughts that were held with high confidence.

Expectancy-Value Processes . According to the reasoned action theory, attitudes are created through an individual’s assessment of how likely it is that a given attitude object will be associated with positive (or negative) consequences or values. The more likely it is that an attitude object (e.g., a car) is associated with a positive consequence (being able to travel to work) or value (staying safe), the more positive the attitude will be. Although some researchers have argued that all attitudes are determined in this manner, it is most likely that this process only occurs when people put sufficient effort into considering all of the possible consequences and values that may be tied to a given attitude object. Interestingly, when people engage in this process of effortful consideration of an object or message, they may actually change their own attitude. If, for instance, you recently purchased a sport utility vehicle merely for the image it provides, your attitude toward it may become more negative if you are prompted to consider all of the consequences (e.g., very expensive fuel bills) and values (e.g., promoting U.S. independence from foreign oil supplies) that are associated with it.

Dissonance Processes . According to cognitive dissonance theory, people are motivated to hold consistent attitudes. Because of this motivation for consistency, people experience unpleasant physiological arousal (an increase in heart rate, sweaty palms, etc.) when they willingly engage in a behavior that is counter to their beliefs or are made aware that they possess two or more conflicting attitudes. This experience then motivates them to change their attitudes so that the unpleasant feelings can be eliminated. When people make a choice from among alternatives, dissonance processes will often produce attitude change. Research has shown that once people make a choice, attitudes toward each of the potential choices will change such that the chosen alternative will be viewed more positively and the nonchosen alternative(s) will be viewed more negatively than prior to the choice. This reduces the aversive dissonance experience that would have occurred if they still felt very positively toward an unselected option. If you’ve ever bought a product that turned out to have flaws, then you’ve probably experienced dissonance. When a situation like this occurs, your behavior (purchasing the product) is not consistent with your beliefs about the product (it is flawed), and this causes dissonance. To resolve this dissonance, you must change either your attitude toward the product (and decide that it is actually good) or your behavior (return it to the store).

Attitude Strength

One of the most important characteristics of an attitude is its strength. Attitude strength is associated with an attitude’s persistence, resistance to change, and ability to predict behavior. The stronger an attitude, the more it exhibits these characteristics. As you might expect, attitudes produced by high-effort cognitive processes are stronger than those produced by low-effort processes. Because they are the result of greater cognitive effort, these attitudes are often based on more consistent information, are supported by a more developed knowledge structure (e.g., related beliefs and values), and are held with greater certainty than are attitudes produced by a low-effort process. If, for instance, your recent car purchase was based on months of research and test-drives, then you are likely to have a whole host of information that supports your positive attitude toward the vehicle. This associated information will then serve to buoy the attitude, allowing it to persist over the life of the vehicle and resist change (e.g., following negative experiences like breakdowns). If your attitude was instead based on a low-effort process (e.g., a heuristic rule, “if it looks good, it is good”), then this attitude may be easily changed when you experience negative events and become motivated to think critically about the attitude object.

• Petty, R. E., Wheeler, S. C., & Tormala, Z. L. (2003). Persuasion and attitude change. In T. Millon & M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of psychology: Personality and social psychology (pp. 353-382). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

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How to Become More Comfortable with Change

by Kathryn Clubb and Jeni Fan

Summary .   

One of the most common unconscious mindsets is that “change is temporary,” but when you see something as temporary, you tend to cope with it instead of accepting and embracing it. The reality is that change is a constant, and you’ll need to navigate it often in your career.

• The authors identify three common change-averse mindsets: receivers, resistors, and controllers. Receivers see change as something that happens  to  them that shakes up their sense of control.
• Resistors push back against change, falsely hoping it might go away. And controllers find change overwhelming and isolating.
• By consciously examining how you approach change, you can adopt these strategies to move toward a more change-ready mindset, and welcome change as an opportunity.

The pace of change has increased massively in light of the pandemic. Managing it now requires a strategy akin to whitewater rafting. New and unpredictable obstacles will continue to present themselves every day — and not just for companies, but for workers themselves.

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Attitude changes everything – it can change your life

Attitude changes everything. Change your attitude and you can change your life. You cannot always control what happens to you in life but you can always control how you respond to the challenges or difficult situations you encounter. The attitude you approach anything with is entirely your choice. The way you choose to respond mirrors your attitude and so by changing your attitude you can change your perspective and change your life. Your attitude reflects the way you see the world and how you live in it. It affects every aspect of your life, your happiness, relationships, health, wellbeing and success. Developing a positive attitude that you apply with action can change the way you live your life regardless of the challenges or adversity you face. In this post I want to share with you some of the ways attitude can change the way you live your life.   “It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The attitude you choose will determine the outcome

Select the most useful attitude that will help you with the challenges you face. The attitude you choose will determine how successful you will manage the challenge or situation. Consider how that attitude will determine what you say, your behaviour and action and what will be the outcome.

Always take action with a purpose

Before you take any action, decide how it will serve your greater goals. Act with thought and consideration when choosing an attitude that will help you take the actions that will manage the challenges you face.

Move out of your comfort zone

If you stay stuck in your comfort zone, it may seem safe and familiar but if you don’t challenge yourself nothing will ever change. If you don’t stretch yourself every day, you will never find out what you are truly capable of. Have a go, take a risk and transition from your comfort zone into your growth zone where you will gain purpose, live your dreams, set goals and overcome the obstacles that have been holding you back.

Take action without expecting success

Change happens and confidence grows from taking action. It’s where you learn most about yourself and build resilience. Of course you have to make decisions and plan your actions to achieve the results you want, but it’s a big mistake to expect those results and then be upset or downhearted when you don’t get them. Take the best action you can but don’t fixate about the result.

Use setbacks or disappointments to learn from and to build resilience

Rather than feeling bad if you fail, reflect on your actions and see what you can do to better or learn what to do next. Growth comes from failing and learning, again and again. Seek out those who share your positive attitude. It’s a known fact that your brain automatically copies the behaviours of the people around you. Therefore, it makes sense to surround yourself with people who have a positive and proactive attitude and move away those who are unduly negative or drain your energy.

Practice gratitude more frequently

Achieving an “attitude of gratitude” entails more than simply recognising what’s wonderful in your own life. Take action by thanking other people for their gifts or kindness to you, even if that gift is something as simple as a smile or an acknowledgement. Don’t take yourself too seriously. If you want to be happier nurture the ability to laugh at yourself. It will help to balance your drive and purpose with a dash of gentle humour and fun.

If you are facing a challenge or difficulty today what attitude will you choose to help yourself?

What action will you take as a result?

If this post has been helpful please share it with other women who may benefit from reading it.

Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-darbyshire-evans

and go to www.finerthinking.com and you can sign up on the homepage for a COMPLEMENTARY BREAKTHROUGH SESSION to discover how you can learn to change your attitude and change your life so you can thrive not just survive and be fulfilled and enjoy the industry you love.

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Essay on Attitude

Students are often asked to write an essay on Attitude in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Attitude

What is attitude.

Attitude is how you think and feel about something or someone. It’s the way you view things. It can be positive or negative. For example, if you like dogs, you have a positive attitude towards them. If you don’t like homework, you have a negative attitude about it.

Types of Attitude

There are three main types of attitudes: positive, negative, and neutral. A positive attitude means you see the good in things. A negative attitude means you focus on the bad. A neutral attitude means you don’t feel strongly one way or the other.

Importance of Attitude

Your attitude can affect your life in big ways. If you have a positive attitude, you feel happy and can handle problems better. But if you have a negative attitude, you might feel sad and find it hard to solve problems. So, it’s important to try to have a positive attitude.

Changing Your Attitude

If you want to change your attitude, you can do it! Start by thinking about good things instead of bad ones. Talk to people who make you feel good. And remember, it’s okay to have bad days. Just try to have more good ones.

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250 Words Essay on Attitude

Attitude is how we think, feel, and act towards different things in life. It’s like a mental filter through which we experience the world around us. A good attitude can make us happy and positive, while a bad attitude can make us unhappy and negative.

There are mainly two types of attitude: positive and negative. A positive attitude means you see the good in everything. You stay hopeful, even in tough times. On the other hand, a negative attitude means you focus more on the bad side. You might feel sad or angry most of the time.

Our attitude shapes our actions. If we have a positive attitude, we will act in a positive way. We will be kind to others, work hard, and never give up. But if we have a negative attitude, we might act in a harmful way. We might be mean to others, not work hard, or give up easily.

The good news is that we can change our attitude. We can choose to have a positive attitude. It might not be easy, but it is possible. We can start by thinking happy thoughts, being grateful for what we have, and doing things that make us feel good.

500 Words Essay on Attitude

Understanding attitude.

Attitude is the way you think and feel about something or someone. It is like a mental filter through which you experience the world around you. Your attitude can be positive or negative, and it often affects how you behave. For example, if you have a positive attitude towards studying, you will enjoy learning new things. On the other hand, if your attitude is negative, you might find studying boring and difficult.

There are mainly three types of attitudes: positive, negative, and neutral. A positive attitude means you see the good in things. You are hopeful and optimistic. A negative attitude means you focus on the bad in things. You are often unhappy or unsatisfied. A neutral attitude means you do not feel strongly one way or the other.

The Power of Positive Attitude

The good news is that you can change your attitude. It is not always easy, but it is possible. Here are some ways to do it:

3. Change your thoughts: Pay attention to your thoughts. If you notice negative thoughts, try to replace them with positive ones. This can take time and practice, but it can make a big difference.

4. Be kind to yourself: Treat yourself with kindness and respect. Speak to yourself as you would to a good friend. This can help improve your self-esteem and your attitude.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Attitude and Behavior, Essay Example

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Attitude defined as the view that one has towards an object. It can either be positive, negative or neutral views towards a person, behavior or event. From the theory, of planned behavior (Hogg & Terry, 2000, p. 31), it supports that the intentions of performing certain behaviors can be predicted by the attitudes that one has towards the behavior, the subjective norms, and perceives control of behavior. Therefore, the actual behavior varies considerably as a result of the intentions one has towards the behavior together with the perceptions of behavioral control (Hogg & Terry, 2000, p. 67). By assessing one’s beliefs in regards to the consequences arising from behavior and by evaluating these consequences desirability, this determines the attitude towards behavior.

In the cognitive dissonance theory, it suggests that every person has an inner drive for holding all their attitudes and beliefs in harmony so as to avoid dissonance (Hogg & Terry, 2000, p. 7). This is because the dissonance will lead to the situation where there will be conflicting attitudes, behaviors or beliefs, and as a result, individuals end up feeling pain and cause change in one of the attitudes or beliefs (Hogg & Terry, 2000, p. 227). For example, when one forced, by circumstances, to behave in a way they do not do, their attitude towards their behavior may be re-evaluated to reduce dissonance.

In the self perception theory, it says that people decide on their own attitudes and feelings towards a certain behavior from watching how they behave in different situations. This occurs when a person’s cues are so weak or confusing that they put the same person in the same point, as an exterior observer (Hogg & Terry, 2000, p. 72). Potential implications of a person’s behavior that has a negative attitude towards individual or group would be development of feelings such as anger, frustration, hatred, disgust, sadness. Also, the drainage of energy from a person due to the maintenance of the negative attitude experienced. Implicit attitudes are the thoughts, feelings, or actions towards objects arising due to experiences that one may not be aware of, whereas explicit attitudes are the thoughts, feelings, or actions toward people, objects, or concepts that the person is aware of the feelings he or she holds in a certain context.

Hogg, M. A & Terry, D. J. (2000). Attitudes, Behavior, and Social Context: The Role of Norms and Group Membership. New York: Routledge.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Habits — 500-word on Behavior Change: Things I Would Like to Change about Myself

500-word on Behavior Change: Things I Would Like to Change About Myself

• Categories: Change Habits

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Words: 506 |

Published: Aug 16, 2019

Words: 506 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Works Cited

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• Baumeister, R. F., Gailliot, M., DeWall, C. N., & Oaten, M. (2006). Self-regulation and personality: How interventions increase regulatory success, and how depletion moderates the effects of traits on behavior. Journal of Personality, 74(6), 1773-1801. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2006.00428.x
• Duckworth, A. L., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2005). Self-discipline outdoes IQ in predicting academic performance of adolescents. Psychological Science, 16(12), 939-944. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2005.01641.x
• Tice, D. M., Baumeister, R. F., Shmueli, D., & Muraven, M. (2007). Restoring the self: Positive affect helps improve self-regulation following ego depletion. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 43(3), 379-384. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2006.05.007
• Hagger, M. S., Wood, C., Stiff, C., & Chatzisarantis, N. L. D. (2010). Ego depletion and the strength model of self-control: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 136(4), 495-525. doi: 10.1037/a0019486

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Attitudes – Formation and Change

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• Norbert M. Seel 2  

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Disposition ; Inclination ; Mindset ; Opinion ; Position ; Prejudice ; Sentiment ; View

An “attitude” is a hypothetical construct that represents the degree to which an individual likes or dislikes something. Everything, i.e., any person, place, thing, or event, can be the object of an attitude. People can be in conflict with or ambivalent toward an object if they simultaneously possess positive and negative attitudes toward it. However, social psychology speaks not only of attitudes, but also of “beliefs,” “opinions,” “prejudices,” “values,” “positions,” “views,” and so on, and it is not always clear how these concepts differ from one another.

Attitudes refer to a person’s predisposition or tendency to evaluate an object or its symbolic representation in a certain way. Thus, attitudes always express a person’s particular relation to objects and help to structure the person’s consciousness by furnishing the objects with a valence and preference. These factors are...

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Department of Education, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

Norbert M. Seel

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Correspondence to Norbert M. Seel .

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Faculty of Economics and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Education, University of Freiburg, 79085, Freiburg, Germany

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Seel, N.M. (2012). Attitudes – Formation and Change. In: Seel, N.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_359

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