Question

Read the following passage and answer question.

Renowned environmentalist T. Shobheendran, after retiring as a Professor of Economics, dedicated himself to fostering a culture of nature conservation among young people. Shobheendran spearheaded unique programs to engage students in tree planting and conservation efforts, transforming approximately 100 acres of barren land surrounding the college campus into a lush green area adorned with over 5,000 trees. Additionally, he actively participated in planting hundreds of saplings in public spaces and along roadsides. Shobheendran's initiatives also led to the establishment of research centres for afforestation projects at both campus and city levels. Members of the Kerala Prakruthi Samrakshana Samiti fondly recalled Shobheendran's tireless efforts against river bank encroachments and water pollution. His advocacy prompted government authorities to take decisive action. Shobheendran's legacy as a champion for nature lives on through the countless individuals he inspired with his relentless conservation activities and social campaigns.

Explain any two processes that may have led to the formation of T. Shobheendran’s attitude towards the environment.

Answer 1

1. Learning attitudes by association: You might have seen that students often develop a liking for a particular subject because of the teacher. This is because they see many positive qualities in that teacher; these positive qualities get linked to the subject that s/he teaches and ultimately get expressed in the form of liking for the subject. In other words, a positive attitude towards the subject is learnt through the positive association between a teacher and a student.
2. Learning attitudes through modelling (observing others): Often, it is not through association or through reward and punishment that we learn attitudes. Instead, we learn them by observing others being rewarded or punished for expressing thoughts or showing behaviour of a particular kind towards the attitude object. For example, children may form a respectful attitude towards elders by observing that their parents show respect for elders and are appreciated for it.
3. Learning attitudes by being rewarded or punished: If an individual is praised for showing a particular attitude, chances are high that s/he will develop that attitude further. For example, if a teenager does yogasanas regularly and gets the honour of being ‘Miss Good Health’ in her school, she may develop a positive attitude towards yoga and health in general. Similarly, if a child constantly falls ill because s/he eats junk food instead of proper meals, then the child is likely to develop a negative attitude towards junk food and also a positive attitude towards eating healthy food.
4. Learning attitudes through group or cultural norms: Very often, we learn attitudes through the norms of our group or culture. Norms are unwritten rules about behaviour that everyone is supposed to show under specific circumstances. Over time, these norms may become part of our social cognition in the form of attitudes.
5. Learning through exposure to information: Many attitudes are learned in a social context, but not necessarily in the physical presence of others. Today, with the huge amount of information that is being provided through various media, both positive and negative attitudes are being formed. By reading the biographies of self-actualized persons, an individual may develop a positive attitude towards hard work and other aspects as the means of achieving success in life.