Attitude change

Attitudes may be observed by inference from behaviour and are said to be based on social influences. They are very resistant to alteration, particularly when based on more than one function - for example, an ego-defence attitude may be supported by the utilitarian function of wishing to retain acceptance in a particular group. This may be because an individual's convictions often form a coherent pattern which is an expression of some deep-seated trend in his personality. Attitudes which might be termed prejudice are amenable to psychotherapy.