Question

The concept of 'Balance' in Attitude Change is explained below. Identify the correct options:
(A) Fritz Heider described this change in the form of P-O-X triangle, which explains the relationship between the aspects.
(B) P is the person whose attitude is being studied. O is another person, X is the topic towards which attitude is studied.
(C) Attitude changes if there is a state of imbalance between P-O, O-X, P-X attitude.
(D) Imbalance is found when all three sides are positive.
(E) Balance is found when all three sides of the P-O-X triangle are negative.

• A. (A), (B) & (D) only
• B. (A), (B) & (C) only
• C. (A), (B) & (E) only
• D. (A), (D) & (E) only

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To determine the correct options regarding the concept of 'Balance' in Attitude Change as described by Fritz Heider: 

1. Heider's P-O-X triangle theory describes the psychological relationship between three elements: Person (P), Other person (O), and an attitudinal object or topic (X). This statement is confirmed as correct because it's the foundation of Heider's theory, reflected in option (A).
2. In the triangle, P indicates the person whose attitude is being studied, O is another person, and X is the object/topic of attitude. This description is also accurate and matches option (B).
3. Imbalance occurs when the product of the relationships between P-O, O-X, and P-X is negative, leading to possible attitude change to restore balance. Imbalance or balance isn't necessarily about all sides being positive or negative but rather about achieving an overall positive product of relationships. Thus option (C) is correct, capturing the essence of needing a balance in attitudes.
4. Contrary to the statements in options (D) and (E), balance is not determined by whether all sides are positive or negative but by the overall product being positive, balancing the relationships.

Thus, the correct options identifying the core of the balance theory according to Heider are (A), (B) & (C) only as these reflect the accurate propositions of the theory.

Answer 2

Here’s the evaluation of each statement based on Fritz Heider’s balance theory:

(A) True: Fritz Heider’s balance theory is indeed based on the P-O-X triangle, which depicts relationships between the person (P), another person (O), and an object or idea (X). This model explains how people seek consistency in their attitudes toward these relationships.

(B) True: In this model, P is the person being analyzed, O is another person, and X is the topic or object toward which the attitudes are directed. The theory helps explain how attitudes toward people and objects are related.

(C) True: An attitude change is likely if there is an imbalance among the attitudes in the P-O-X triangle. Imbalance creates tension, which the individual seeks to reduce by changing their attitudes to restore balance.

(D) False: Imbalance is not necessarily found when all sides are positive. Balance is typically achieved when the product of the relationships is positive, which could either be all positive or one negative and two positive. A fully positive triangle doesn’t necessarily create imbalance.

(E) False: Balance is not found when all three sides are negative. The triangle is balanced when the relationships result in a positive product, which means either all positive relationships or one negative and two positive relationships.

This theory explains how people try to maintain consistency in their relationships with others and their attitudes toward objects or ideas.