An attitude is an evaluation of an object, person, or idea. According to the widely accepted multicomponent model (also known as the ABC model), an attitude has three components:
Affective Component (Feelings): This involves a person’s feelings or emotions about the attitude object. For example, a person might have a fear of spiders. The fear is the affective component of their attitude towards spiders.
Behavioral Component (Action): This is the way the attitude influences how we act or behave. For example, because of their fear, the person might scream and run away when they see a spider. This action is the behavioral component.
Cognitive Component (Beliefs): This involves a person’s belief or knowledge about an attitude object. For example, the person might believe that spiders are dangerous. This belief is the cognitive component.