Attitude: Content; Structure and Functions (UPSC Ethics)

1. Understanding Attitude: Meaning & Components (C–A–B Model)

In Ethics, attitude refers to a learned and relatively stable mental readiness to respond favourably or unfavourably towards a person, event, idea, policy or institution. It develops through socialisation, learning, observation and experience.

The Content of Attitude is explained through the classic C–A–B Model:

A. Cognitive Component

• Thoughts, beliefs, values, stereotypes about the attitude object
• Represents what a person thinks
• Example: “Corruption harms development”

B. Affective Component

• Emotional reactions such as liking, anger, fear, empathy
• Represents what a person feels
• Example: Feeling moral disgust towards corruption

C. Behavioural / Conative Component

• Predisposition to act in a certain way
• Represents what a person does or is inclined to do
• Example: Refusing bribes, reporting wrongdoing

flowchart TB
  classDef g fill:#E8F8F5,stroke:#148F77,color:#117864;
  classDef o fill:#FEF5E7,stroke:#E67E22,color:#6E2C00;

  A["Attitude"]:::g --> B["Cognitive:
Beliefs & Ideas"]:::o
  A --> C["Affective:
Feelings & Emotions"]:::o
  A --> D["Behavioural:
Action Tendencies"]:::o
  

★ IASNOVA.COM — SMART UPSC PREP ★

2. Structure of Attitude

The structure of an attitude determines how strongly its components are held, how accessible they are, and how consistently they translate into behaviour. A well-structured attitude is more predictive of ethical conduct.

A. Uni-Dimensional Structure

• Attitude ranges on a single scale: negative → neutral → positive
• Simplifies evaluation
• Example: Attitude towards RTI may be clearly positive

B. Multi-Dimensional Structure (Ambivalence)

• Allows simultaneous positive and negative evaluations
• Leads to conflicting behaviour
• Example: Admiring a leader’s efficiency but disliking authoritarian methods

C. Strength, Accessibility & Ambivalence

• Strength: Strong attitudes resist change & guide choices
• Accessibility: Easily retrievable attitudes guide quick decisions
• Ambivalence: Mixed feelings → hesitation & inconsistency

flowchart LR
  classDef g fill:#E8F8F5,stroke:#148F77,color:#117864;
  classDef o fill:#FEF5E7,stroke:#E67E22,color:#6E2C00;

  A["Structure of Attitude"]:::g --> B["Strength"]:::o
  A --> C["Accessibility"]:::o
  A --> D["Ambivalence"]:::o

  B --> E["Strong = Stable
Weak = Easily Changed"]:::o
  C --> F["Quick Retrieval
Guides Fast Ethical Action"]:::o
  D --> G["Conflicting Views
Inconsistent Behaviour"]:::o
  

★ IASNOVA.COM — SMART UPSC PREP ★

3. Functions of Attitude

Attitudes serve important psychological, social and adaptive functions. For civil servants, understanding these functions helps explain why people support, resist or rationalise behaviour in governance settings.

A. Knowledge / Cognitive Function

• Helps organise and simplify information
• Framework for interpreting governance issues
• Example: Positive attitude toward transparency helps officers analyse citizens’ grievances effectively

B. Utilitarian / Instrumental Function

• Helps maximise rewards & minimise punishments
• Attitudes adopted for practical benefit
• Example: Support for digital governance due to improved appraisals

C. Value-Expressive Function

• Expresses personal values and identity
• Demonstrates deeply held moral principles
• Example: Officer committed to equality supports affirmative action

D. Ego-Defensive Function

• Protects self-esteem and reduces internal conflict
• Often involves rationalisation or denial
• Example: Corrupt official justifies bribery as “necessary to speed up work”

E. Social-Adjustive / Identity Function

• Allows fitting into social groups & gaining acceptance
• Attitudes formed to match organisational culture
• Example: New officer embracing a pro-transparency workplace environment

flowchart TB
  classDef g fill:#E8F8F5,stroke:#148F77,color:#117864;
  classDef o fill:#FEF5E7,stroke:#E67E22,color:#6E2C00;

  A["Functions of Attitude"]:::g --> B["Knowledge Function"]:::o
  A --> C["Utilitarian Function"]:::o
  A --> D["Value-Expressive"]:::o
  A --> E["Ego-Defensive"]:::o
  A --> F["Social-Adjustive"]:::o
  

★ IASNOVA.COM — SMART UPSC PREP ★

4. Why Content, Structure & Functions Matter for Public Service

Understanding attitude is essential for strengthening ethical competence in public administration. The relationship between attitude and behaviour explains why people sometimes act ethically despite pressures, and sometimes fail despite knowledge.

• Content shows what a person thinks, feels and intends
• Structure determines how strongly & consistently the attitude guides action
• Functions explain why a person holds that attitude

Thus, civil service training must target:

• Correcting cognitive distortions
• Strengthening emotional commitment to values
• Reinforcing pro-ethical behaviour patterns
• Aligning attitudes with constitutional & democratic ideals

flowchart LR
  classDef g fill:#E8F8F5,stroke:#148F77,color:#117864;
  classDef o fill:#FEF5E7,stroke:#E67E22,color:#6E2C00;

  A["Content
Cognitive-Affective-Behavioural"]:::g --> B["Structure
Strength & Accessibility"]:::o
  B --> C["Functions
Knowledge, Utilitarian,
Value, Ego, Social"]:::o
  C --> D["Behaviour in Public Office"]:::o
  D --> E["Ethical Governance"]:::g
  

★ IASNOVA.COM — SMART UPSC PREP ★

5. SMART SUMMARY — Quick Revision Table

★ IASNOVA.COM — SMART UPSC PREP ★

6. Practice Question

Q. (150 words)
“Explain the structure and functions of attitude with suitable examples from public life. How do they influence ethical decision-making in public administration?”

• Introduce attitude as evaluation + readiness to act
• Explain structure (C-A-B, strength, accessibility, ambivalence)
• Explain functions with governance examples
• Link to behaviour in dilemmas — transparency, empathy, honesty
• Conclude with importance of value-aligned attitudes

★ IASNOVA.COM — SMART UPSC PREP ★