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TOPIC 6 - EPS 101 (Group B)

The document discusses personality, attitudes, and social behavior. It defines personality as consistent human characteristics and discusses the structure and functions of attitudes. It also explains how social norms and roles influence behavior in social situations.

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Jacquese
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25 views4 pages

TOPIC 6 - EPS 101 (Group B)

The document discusses personality, attitudes, and social behavior. It defines personality as consistent human characteristics and discusses the structure and functions of attitudes. It also explains how social norms and roles influence behavior in social situations.

Uploaded by

Jacquese
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WEEK 6: Personality, attitudes, Social behaviour

6.1 Introduction

Good afternoon. Last week, we discussed attention and states of consciousness. Today we
shall discuss personality, attitudes, Social behaviour

6.2 Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

I. Explain the terms personality, attitudes, Social behaviour


II. Discuss the impact of personality, attitudes, Social behaviour in human life
III. Illustrate the structure of attitudes.
IV. Analyse the functions of attitudes

6.2.1 Activity

 What are the consistent characteristics people associate you with?

6.3 Personality

Personality are human being’s characteristics that make people unique. Therefore,
personality consists of all consistent behaviour of a person. Personality psychology is the
study of how unique characteristics develop and how they are shaped by individual
experiences and situations.

6.3.1 Structure of attitudes


Attitudes structure can be explained in three components namely;

 Cognitive component: This involves a person’s belief about an attitude object. For
example: “I believe snakes are dangerous”.
 Affective component: This involves a person’s emotions or feelings about the
attitude object. For example: “I am frightened by snakes”.

 Behavioral component: The attitude we have influences on how we behave or act.


For example: “when I see snakes I run away”.

This model is referred to as ABC model of attitudes.

According to the principle of consistent individual behaviour is expected to be in consistent


with the attitudes they hold. In most cases it is evident that most people do not follow
the principle of consistent. For example, doctors know that abusing alcohol causes liver
cancer but some continue to abuse it. This is evidence that the cognitive and behaviour
components of affective do not always agree with what people do. The attitude strength
is determined by how the attitude is significant to the person and how a person knows
about the attitude subject. Attitudes which come with personal experience are strongly
held than attitudes that come with indirect experience. For example, being involved in a
situation (directly) and hear-say (indirectly) about the situation.

6.3.2 Functions of attitudes

 Attitudes make life to have a meaning and knowledge. The knowledge helps people
to predict what will happen in future. This helps people to be organized and
structure their life. For example, knowing that a student manages time, this can help
us to predict that the student will be not involve drug abuse at the university.
 People are able to identify us through our attitudes. For example, this can be
through our self-expression, beliefs and feelings.
 People who express socially acceptable behaviors are rewarded through social
acceptance. This helps people to adapt in a given society.
 Ego-defensive help people to protect their self- esteem and justify actions which

make them unhappy. For example, those things people hate they usually develop
negative attitudes towards them. Positive attitude help people has protective

functions by helping individuals to back up their self-image

6.3.4 Social behaviour

There are many ways on how presence of people can influence our behaviour. In any
social situation there are expectations on how to behave. We have social roles which make
people to adopt where the behaviour changes to fit the expectation of the society. Every
society has social norms which provide members with expected ideas on how to behave.
For example, at University of Embu the students are expected to arrive for lessons on time
and complete their assignment. Behaviour which fulfil this social norm is referred to as
conformity. There norms which define a certain group. For example, the students in
University of Embu are expected to be hardworking and to dress decently. Consequently,
social norms provide order in a particular society.
6.4 Learning Activities

I. Explain the term personality, attitudes, social behaviour


II. Describe how a teacher can use personality, attitudes, social behaviour to help
learners to be hardworking
III. Illustrate relationship between personality, attitudes, social behaviour.

6.5 References

Core reading
1. Santrock, W. J. (2020). Psychology. Boston: McGraw Hill.
2. Berger, K.S. (2012). The Developing Person. Worth Publishers. New York.
Further Reading

1. Santrock, J.W. (2010). Psychology Essentials. McGraw- Hill companies. New York
2. Beckett, C., & Taylor, H. (2010). Human Growth and Development. London: Sage.
3. O’Brien, E. (2008). Human Growth and Development. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan.
4. O’Brien, E. (2011). Psychology for Social Care: An Irish Perspective. Dublin: Gill &
Macmillan Sugarman, L. (1995). Life-span Development: Concepts, Theories and
Interventions. London: Routledge.

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