The Definition of Attitude, Essay Example

Winston Churchill once said that attitude is “a little thing that makes a big difference” (Churchill), suggesting that attitude is a state of mind rather than something concrete.  The ambiguity of Churchill’s statement demonstrates that attitude cannot be easily defined.  It has both positive and negative implications, and can be used to refer to the manner in which an individual lives their life and approaches both success and adversity.  People can be said to have both good and bad attitudes, but this doesn’t necessarily say as much about the individual in question as it does with how their actions are perceived by those around them.  Hence, the choices that an individual makes in their life–from the mundane to the complex–can assist in demonstrating their attitude to the world around them.  Attitude is the manner in which an individual approaches the pivotal and mundane events of their life and, as such, can be greatly shaped by external influences and self-perception.

The positive implications of attitude are often applied to the world of sports and business, two fields which value competition, assertiveness, and action.  For example, in a discussion of boxer Buddy Baer’s performance in a 1941 match in which he was considered to be the underdog, the sport’s writer stated that Baer’s performance owed more to “the heart attitude than the mental attitude” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).  The author describes the boxer’s enduring spirit and inability to give up the fight, even when it seemed as if he had no more physical strength left.  This supports Churchill’s assertions about attitude, especially if you consider his use of the word “little” to imply intangibility rather than smallness.  Attitude is something that is impossible to physically touch, and is more a philosophical approach that we all undertake without even being aware of it.  Our attitude defines our relationship with ourselves and those around us, leading to our acceptance within social circles.  Buddy Baer was admired by the sportswriter because of his unflagging attitude, demonstrating that a positive attitude, or outlook, can be crucial to success in competitive endeavours.

The concept of an individual’s attitude can also be used to describe negative aspect of one’s personality, as well.  This word is often used in educational and social circles to characterize the behavior of children and adolescents.  For example, in a review of Dr. Ruth Peters’ book The 25 Laws of Parenting to Keep Your Kids on Track, Out of Trouble, and (Pretty Much) Under Control, the author discusses the importance of providing concrete consequences so as to improve the  negative attitudes of teenagers.  She writes that “the effective use of consequences and teaching […] the ‘behavior-consequence connection’ are the most efficient ways of gaining better behavior as well as genuine changes in kid attitude” (Peters).  This illustrates that an individual’s attitude is not so much action-based as it is part of the mental and emotional components that make up our personalities.  Dr. Peters’ assertions also suggest that an attitude is something that can be changed over time by external forces, in this case, a teenager’s parents.

Attitude is best described as a constantly-changing aspect of an individual’s personality.  It can be shaped, modified, and sometimes controlled by social forces.  However, it is also within possible for an individual to change their attitude because of a determination to succeed at tasks that require fortitude and resolve.  The various ways that attitude can be used to describe an individual’s particular mindset illustrate that it is not a finite concept, but rather evolves throughout the course of a person’s life.

It is perhaps most productive to look at attitude as the manner in which an individual chooses to exercise control over the circumstances of their life.  This can be very empowering for people because it suggests that they need not be victimized by the obstacles that life can put in their way.  Instead, with a positive attitude, individuals can overcome adversity and, like Buddy Baer, succeed when everyone around them believes that they are doomed to fail.

Works Cited

Churchill, Winston. Think-Exist, 2010. Web. 27 June 2011.

Peters, Ruth A. “Kid Got a Bad Attitude?  Here’s How to Change It.” MSNBC, 17 Dec. 2004. Web. 27 June 2011.

“The Mental Attitude.” The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 22 May 1941. Web. 27 June 2011.