Describe the word attitude

Attitude is defined as a more or less stable set of predispositions of opinion, interest or purpose involving expectancy of a certain kind of experience and readiness with an appropriate response.

Attitudes are also known as “frames of reference“. They provide the background against which facts and events are viewed.

Table of Content

  • 1 What is Attitude?
  • 2 Attitude Definition
  • 3 Attitude Meaning
  • 4 Components of Attitude
    • 4.1 Cognitive component
    • 4.2 Affective component
    • 4.3 Behavioral component
  • 5 Characteristics of Attitude
    • 5.1 Attitude are predispositions
    • 5.2 Attitude are different from values
    • 5.3 Attitude are evaluative statement
    • 5.4 Attitude influence human behavior
    • 5.5 Attitude have intensity
    • 5.6 Attitude are learnt
  • 6 Functions of Attitude
    • 6.1 Adjustment Function
    • 6.2 Ego-Defensive Function
    • 6.3 Value-Expressive Function
    • 6.4 Knowledge Function
  • 7 Types of Attitude
    • 7.1 Job satisfaction
    • 7.2 Job involvement
    • 7.3 Organizational commitment
  • 8 Attitude Formation
    • 8.1 Experiences
    • 8.2 Perceptual biases
    • 8.3 Observation of other person attitude
    • 8.4 Association
    • 8.5 Personality
  • 9 Consumer Attitude Formation
  • 10 Importance of Attitude
    • 10.1 Career success
    • 10.2 Productivity
    • 10.3 Leadership
    • 10.4 Teamwork
    • 10.5 Decision making
    • 10.6 Motivation
    • 10.7 Interpersonal relations
    • 10.8 Stress management
  • 11 Theories of Attitude
    • 11.1 Balance Theory
    • 11.2 Congruity Theory
    • 11.3 Affective Cognitive Consistency Theory
    • 11.4 Cognitive Dissonance Theory

what is attitude

what is attitude

An attitude describes persons’ enduring favorable or unfavorable cognitive evaluations, feelings, and action tendencies toward some object or idea. People have attitudes regarding almost everything such as religion, politics, cloth, music, food.

A person’s attitudes settle into a coherent pattern and to change one may require difficult adjustment in many others. Thus, a company would be well advised to fit its product into existing attitudes rather than to try changing people’s attitude.

Attitude can be defined as learnt predispositions to respond to an object or class of objects in a consistently favorable or unfavourable way.


Attitude Definition

Attitudes are evaluation statements either favourable or unfavourable or unfavourable concerning objects, people or events. They reflect how one feels about something.

Robbins

Attitude is a mental and neutral state of readiness organized through experience, exerting a directive or dynamic influence upon individual’s response to all objects and situations with which it is related.

G.W. Allport

 Attitude as an enduring organization of motivational, emotional, perceptual and cognitive processes with respect to some aspect of the individual’s world.

Krech and Crutchfield

Attitude is a tendency or predisposition to evaluate an object or symbol of that object in a certain way.

Katz and Scotland


Attitude Meaning

In simple words, an “attitude” is an individual’s way of looking or an individual’s point of view at something.

To be more specific, an “attitude” may be defined as the mental state of an individual, which prepares him to react or make him behave in a particular pre-determined way. It is actually an acquired feeling.

Attitude is the mixture of beliefs and feelings that people
have about situations, specific ideas or other people.

Also Read: What is Organizational Behavior? | Organizational Behavior Definition


Components of Attitude

  1. Cognitive component
  2. Affective component
  3. Behavioral component
Components of Attitude
Components of Attitude

Cognitive component

Beliefs are the cognitive components of consumer attitude. Cognitive component of attitude is associated with the value statement. It consists of values, belief, ideas and other information that a person may have faith in.

Positive brand associations enhance brand equity and are achieved through a number of positioning strategies. Through brand associations, marketers establish and influence favorable beliefs about a brand and unfavorable beliefs about competitors.

Example: Quality of sincere hard is a faith or value statement that a manager may have.

Affective component

Affective is the emotive component of consumer attitude. Affective component of attitude is associated with individual feelings about another person, which may be positive, neutral or negative.

Three research models describe the determinants of affective response.

  • Functional theory of attitude explains that consumers buy as a result of one of four psychological functions: adjustment, ego defense, value expression, and application of prior knowledge.
  • Fishbein model relates consumer beliefs and evaluations to affective response: if beliefs are strong and desirable, affective responses are positive.
  • Belief importance model analyses affective responses across competing brands.

Example: I don’t like Sam because he is not honest, or I like Sam because he is sincere. It is an expression of feelings about a person, object or a situation.

Behavioral component

Intention is the behavioral component of consumer attitude. Behavioral component of attitude is associated with the impact of various condition or situations that lead to person behavior based on cognitive and affective components.

Two research models demonstrate the relationship between intention to purchase and actual purchase and consumption.

  • The theories of reasoned action explain purchasing behavior as a direct result of intention, influenced by attitude toward purchase and by subjective norms.
  • The theory of trying to consume explains actual consumption behavior of purchasers. It provides insight into the establishment and maintenance of long-term relationship with consumers.

Example: I don’t like Sam because he is not honest is an affective component, I, therefore, would like to disassociate myself with him, is a behavioural component and therefore I would avoid Sam.

Cognitive and affective components are bases for such behaviour. Former two components cannot be seen, only the behaviour component can be seen. Former is important because it is a base for the formation of attitude.

Also Read: Vroom’s Expectancy Theory of Motivation


Characteristics of Attitude

Characteristics of attitude are discussed below:

  1. Attitude are predispositions
  2. Attitude are different from values
  3. Attitude are evaluative statement
  4. Attitude influence human behavior
  5. Attitude have intensity
  6. Attitude are learnt
Characteristics of Attitude
Characteristics of Attitude

Attitude are predispositions

Attitude are predispositions of purpose, interest or opinion of the person to assess some objects in a favourable or an unfavourable manner.

Attitude are different from values

Attitude are different from values: Values are the ideals, whereas attitudes are narrow, they are our feelings.

Attitude are evaluative statement

Attitude are evaluative statements: either favourable or unfavourable concerning the objects, people or events.

Attitude influence human behavior

A positive attitude towards a thing will influence human behavior towards the thing favorably and vice-versa.

Attitude have intensity

It refers to the strength of the effective component. For example, we may dislike an individual but the extent of our disliking would determine the intensity of our attitude towards the person.

Attitude are learnt

Attitude is not inborn phenomenon. Attitude are learnt through social interaction and experience.


Functions of Attitude

Four important functions of attitude which are crucial in organizational behavior viewpoint are:

  1. Adjustment Function
  2. Ego-Defensive Function
  3. Value-Expressive Function
  4. Knowledge Function
Functions of Attitude
Functions of Attitude

Adjustment Function

Attitudes often help individuals to adjust to their work environment.

Consumers hold certain brand attitudes partly because of the brand utility. If a product has helped us in the past even in a small way, our attitude towards it tends to be favorable. One way of changing attitude in favor of a product is by showing people that it can solve utilitarian goals. They may not have considered some advertisement which stresses the utilitarian benefits of a product.

Example: Well-treated employees tend to develop a positive attitude towards their management or job.

Ego-Defensive Function

Consumers want to protect their self concept from inner feelings of doubt. Cosmetic and personal hygiene products, by acknowledging this need, increase their relevance to the consumer and have the possibility of a favorable attitude by offering reassurance to the consumers self concept.

Example: Older faculty might feel somewhat threatened by a young and new faculty member who is full of fresh ideas and enthusiasm

Value-Expressive Function

Attitudes are one expression of general values, lifestyles, and outlook. If a consumer segment generally holds a positive attitude towards being in a fashion segment, consumer may treat high fashion clothing and accessories as symbols of that lifestyle.

Example, a manager who values honest and sincere work will be more vocal against an employee who is having a very casual approach towards work.

Knowledge Function

Attitudes provide frames of reference or standard that allow individuals to understand and perceive the world around him. Individuals have a strong need to know and understand the people and things with whom they come in contact, especially if they think they might influence their behavior.

Example, If a student has a strong negative attitude towards the college, whatever the college does, the student will be perceived as something ‘bad’ and as actually against them.

Also Read: What is Motivation? | Types of Motivation


Types of Attitude

There are broadly three types of attitude in term of organisational behavior

  1. Job satisfaction
  2. Job involvement
  3. Organizational commitment
Types of Attitude
Types of Attitude

Job satisfaction

A collection of positive and/or negative feelings that an individual holds toward his or her job.

A person will hold a positive attitude if had a high level of satisfaction, while dissatisfied people will generally display a negative attitude towards life.

When we talk about attitude, we generally speak about job satisfaction because they are inter-related in organizational behaviour.

Job involvement

Job involvement refers to the degree to which a person identifies himself (psychologically) with his job, actively participates and considers his perceived performance level important to self-worth. (Robbins)

Higher job satisfaction leads to low absenteeism & employee turnover and indicates that the individual cares for his job.

Organizational commitment

Organizational commitment refers to a degree to which an employee identifies himself with the organizational goals and wishes to maintain membership in the organization.

Resigning from the job or absenting versus job satisfaction is a predictor of organizational commitment. Organizational commitment depends upon the degree of autonomy & freedom job and job enrichment factor.

Also Read: What is Perception? | Importance of Perception


Attitude Formation

The question often arises, ‘how are the attitudes and subsequent behaviors formed?’ While attitudes are basically learned over the years, some inherited characteristics do affect such attitudes

Some of the learned characteristics responsible for attitude formation are:

  1. Experiences
  2. Perceptual biases
  3. Observation of other person attitude
  4. Association
  5. Personality
Attitude Formation
Attitude Formation

Experiences

Our personal experiences with people and situations develop our attitude towards such persons and situations.

Through job experience, people develop attitudes towards working conditions, salaries, supervision, group dynamics and so on.

Perceptual biases

Perception is the result of a complex interaction of various senses such as feelings, seeing, hearing and so on and plays an important part in our attitude and behavioural formation.

For example, if a manager perceives a subordinate’s ability as limited, he will give him limited responsibility. Similarly, we lose many good friends due to our changed perception about them.

Observation of other person attitude

When we like someone, we try to emulate that person’s attitude.

For example, when we are impressed by someone keeping calm under stressful circumstances and we appreciate such calmness, we might try to do the same.

Association

Our association with the group we belong to strongly influences our attitude. Our close association with a group would encourage us to be consistent with the attitude of the group.

Personality

Personality is a set of traits and characteristics, habit patterns and conditioned responses to certain stimuli that formulate the impression that a person makes upon others and this impression is a function of a person’s attitude.


Consumer Attitude Formation

Attitudes are learned though there are different approaches on how learning works as is acquired by individuals. Following factors lead to consumer attitude formation:

  1. Economic Factors
  2. Family Factors
  3. Social Factors
  4. Political Factors
  5. Psychological Factors
  6. Personality Factors
  7. Reference Group Factors

Read Complete Article: Consumer Attitude Formation


Importance of Attitude

An expert knows that a positive attitude is necessary for successful completion of a project or an assigned task. Having a positive attitude with positive thinking in the organization will reflect on what employee do and make them a more productive employee.

Importance of attitude in organisational behavior

Employees with a positive attitude will create a healthy atmosphere in the organization, develop positive relations with sub-ordinates, their supervisors, managers and top management. A positive attitude has significant benefits for an individual in many aspects.

Following are the aspects related to the importance of attitude:

  1. Career success
  2. Productivity
  3. Leadership
  4. Teamwork
  5. Decision making
  6. Motivation
  7. Interpersonal relations
  8. Stress management
Importance of Attitude
Importance of Attitude

Career success

Performance is a parameter to measure employees‘ success in the workplace. Performance leads to success either through promotion or increased compensation. A positive attitude of an employee will help him to think of ways to accomplish their task in a well-defined manner

Productivity

An employee with a positive attitude tends to take more interest and responsibility and will provide better work, which in turn will improve productivity.

Leadership

Managing a diverse workforce is a crucial task for achieving the objective of an organization. Positive attitude demonstrated by leaders or employee will result in proper communication between the subordinate which will lead to efficient work.

Teamwork

A positive attitude of employees helps to appreciate each other‘s competencies and work as a team for achieving common objectives.

Decision making

An employee with a positive attitude and mindset will help employees to make better decisions, in an objective manner. It will enable employees to choose wisely and logically and avoid them to take an unambiguous decision.

Motivation

Motivation is an important factor for efficient work. An employee with a positive attitude will always be mentally prepared to face any obstacle in a job. The moment they are successful in overcoming obstacles, they are motivated to move forward.

Interpersonal relations

Customers prefer to make relation with someone who is positive in nature. A positive attitude helps in establishing valuable customer loyalty.

Stress management

Positive attitude and thinking will reduce the stress of an employee and with reduced stress employee can take a better decision and increase their productivity which results, employees, to enjoy better health and take fewer sick leaves.

Importance of Attitude in Organization

Importance of Attitude in Organization

Also Read: What is Learning? | Elements of Learning | Factors Affecting Learning


Theories of Attitude

  1. Balance Theory
  2. Congruity Theory
  3. Affective Cognitive Consistency Theory
  4. Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Theories of Attitude
Theories of Attitude

Lets discuss these 4 theories of attitude in brief:

Balance Theory

Balance Theory is concerned with consistency in the judgement of people and or issues that are linked by some form of relationship.

There are three elements:

  • Person
  • Other person
  • Impersonal entity

There are two types of relationship to connect these three types of elements

  1. The linking relations or sentiments
  2. The unit relation

Both linking and unit relations are positive or negative towards any object or person or stimuli etc. or these three types of elements.

Congruity Theory

Congruity theory is similar to balance theory. The focus of the theory is on changes in evolution of a source and a concept that are linked by an associative or dissociative assertion.

Congruity exists when a source and concept positively associated have exactly the same evaluation, and when a source and concept that are negatively associated have exactly the opposite evaluation attached to him.

Affective Cognitive Consistency Theory

The theory is also called structural because it is concerned with what happens within the individual when an attitude changes.

It is concerned with the consistency between a person’s overall attitude towards an object or issue and its his beliefs about the relationship.

Cognitive structure means end relationship between the object or issue and the achievement of desired undesired values of goals.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

It is little-bit similar to affective cognitive theory. The difference between these two is that the stimuli arise from environment in the first one.

This theory tends to tie in the third component of attitude. There are three types of cognitions: 1. Dissonance 2.


Go to Section:

What is Attitude? | Attitude Definition | Attitude Meaning | Components of Attitude | Characteristics of Attitudes | Functions of Attitude | Types of Attitude | Attitude Formation | Importance of Attitude | Theories of Attitude


Reference

  1. Robbins, Stephen P. 2010. Organizational Behaviour. New Delhi: Prentice-Hall.
  2. Anderson, M., 2004. The Power of Attitude, Thomas Nelson.

FAQ

What is Attitude?

Attitude is defined as a more or less stable set of predispositions of opinion, interest or purpose involving expectancy of a certain kind of experience and readiness with an appropriate response.

What is Personality?

Personality is the fundamental and foremost determinant of individual behaviour. It seeks to integrate the physiological and psychological facets of an individual to put them into action.

What is Perception?

Perception is the process by which a person interpret and organize sensation to produce a meaningful experience of the world.

What is Learning?

Learning can be defined as a relatively permanent change in behaviour or potential behaviour as a result of direct or indirect experience. Learning is thus a change in behaviour as a result of experience.


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Ezoic

1

: the arrangement of the parts of a body or figure : posture

depicted her in a reclining attitude

2

: a position assumed for a specific purpose

3

: a ballet position similar to the arabesque in which the raised leg is bent at the knee

4

a

: a mental position with regard to a fact or state

b

: a feeling or emotion toward a fact or state

5

: the position of a craft (such as an aircraft or spacecraft) determined by the relationship between its axes and a reference datum (such as the horizon or a particular star)

6

: a bodily state of readiness to respond in a characteristic way to a stimulus (such as an object, concept, or situation)

7

a

: a negative or hostile state of mind

b

: a cool, cocky, defiant, or arrogant manner

He was showing some attitude in practice today, so the coach benched him.

Synonyms

Example Sentences



He has a positive attitude about the changes.



She’s friendly and has a good attitude.



You need to change your bad attitude.



There’s been a change in his attitude since his accident.



I don’t know what her problem is. She has a real attitude.



I suggest you get rid of that attitude and shape up.



He was showing some attitude during practice today, so the coach benched him.

See More

Recent Examples on the Web

An online survey designed to help determine the public’s attitude is available until April 11.


Savannaheadens, oregonlive, 5 Apr. 2023





The reason for the change points to the monarch’s sensitivity to the public’s attitude towards the royal family and a desire to avoid excess during the country’s current cost of living crisis.


Isiah Magsino, Town & Country, 4 Apr. 2023





Mollman said the broad approach to violent crime only hardens those attitudes.


Ralph Chapoco, al, 4 Apr. 2023





The zoo’s staff will remember Jontu for his calm attitude and gentle demeanor.


Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2023





Because of such attitudes, Jews of color can sometimes feel alienated or excluded by the wider Jewish community, said Amanda Beckenstein Mbuvi, vice president of academic affairs at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.


Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 4 Apr. 2023





But decades later, attitudes about non-English instruction are shifting as dual-language programs in K-12 public schools have gained popularity.


Debbie Truong, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2023





Inherent in corporate cultures, unconscious bias (also known as implicit bias) refers to subconscious attitudes that impact how people respond to others at work.


Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 2 Apr. 2023





Also, strong negative and positive attitudes were expressed about different varieties of Spanish, just as negative and positive opinions about the English of my Jewish, Italian, Irish and African American neighbors and playmates abounded.


Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2023



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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘attitude.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Italian attitudine, literally, aptitude, from Late Latin aptitudin-, aptitudo fitness — more at aptitude

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of attitude was
in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near attitude

Cite this Entry

“Attitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attitude. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.

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Last Updated:
7 Apr 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged

Attitude Definition

One of the most popular topics people like to study, research and understand is about body language and mindset. What someone believes, how or what they are thinking, and what they do is of peak curiosity for people. 

When we talk about the word attitude it can be a belief, a mindset or a state of mind, and these things can be seen in how someone presents themselves and the behavior they project. The word attitude is a noun and had a few different meanings depending on the context it is used in.

1. Meaning of Attitude:

We can use the word attitude to express what you think or perceive someone.

  • My son has a great attitude towards school.
  • My boss wants to change the attitude of the department so people enjoy coming to work.

2. Meaning of Attitude:

In terms of aviation, the word attitude can be used to describe the position of an aircraft.

  • The aviation student had difficulty with understanding the concept of attitude, when flying a plane.
  • You need to watch your attitude and pay attention to the ADI instruments.

3. Meaning of Attitude:

The word attitude can be used to express the way someone behaves as a result of how they think or see things.

  • The new manager had an aggressive attitude towards the staff. I wonder how long he will last?
  • I really like your new friend she is polite and has a optimistic attitude.

4. Meaning of Attitude:

When we talk about body language, people can express attitude based on how they arrange and position their body, extremities and facial expressions.

  • Based on her hands on her hips, she was displaying an angry attitude.
  • His eyes and shoulders expressed an attitude of sadness.

5. Meaning of Attitude:

When someone presents a negative, defiant, and arrogant manner they can be said to be giving attitude.

  • I don’t know what your problem is, but cut the attitude or you will be grounded for another week!
  • The new delivery boy has a lot of attitude and the boss told him to ship up or ship out.

Dialog:

Francis: Hey Paul, what’s with the attitude?

Paul: What are you talking about? I don’t have any attitude?

Francis: It is not what you are saying, your body speaks attitude so loudly I have to cover my eyes and ears!

Paul: Yeah, ok. I guess my attitude is a little bad lately. My boss has been giving me attitude, my girlfriend has been giving me attitude and even my dog has been giving me attitude.

Francis: Funny! Well you usually have a much better attitude about things, so I thought I would ask.

Paul: Yeah, I need to get back to my positive attitude and not let the attitudes of others affect me so much.

Related Phrases & Phrasal Verbs:

Point of view – we use point of view to say that someone has a belief of opinion about something or someone.

  • Though his attitude, he made his point of view very clear.

Frame of mind – we use this phrase in the context of attitude, to express a mood or disposition.

  • I am concerned about Sally’s attitude and here state of mind when it comes to working closely with her fellow co-workers.

Way of thinking – we use this phrase to express one’s opinion or belief about something.

  • His way of thinking does not match the attitude of the rest of the group, he should be asked to step down as team leader.

Turn of mind – we use turn of mind to say that someone has a fixed and particular way of thinking.

  • The CEO had a turn of mind because of the attitude of the consumers towards the manufacturing of the product in China

Cop an attitude – we use this phrase when we express that someone is arrogant or haughty.

  • My girlfriend really coped an attitude when I told her I didn’t want to get married until I graduate from college.

Related idioms:

Mind trip/Head trip – in the context of attitude, we would use this to say that someone is on an ego trip or behaving in a selfish and arrogant way.

Modus aperandi – in the context of attitude, we use this phrase to describe a persons particular and stubborn way of doing something.

Back talk –  This phrase is used to describe when someone is disrespect a person of authority with their words.

Wisecrack – in the context of attitude, we use this phrase to say that someone has criticizes someone in a negative and sarcastic way.

Two cents worth – we use this phrase in the context of attitude, to say that someone is giving an opinion that is unwanted or that is critical of something or someone.

Synonyms (other ways to say):

Mood

Feeling

Viewpoint

Demeanor

Temperament

Mood

Manner

Posture

Pose

Presence

Sports writers are even more left wing than political journalists, so viewing their political opinions as somehow signifying a popular shift in attitude is a mistake. ❋ Unknown (2007)

On the Sunday morning news shows, massive change in attitude from the Dems. ❋ Unknown (2006)

One of the major reasons for this change in attitude is that there’s more money around. ❋ Unknown (2003)

For some, it is an easy shorthand for a change in attitude from the search for growth — which largely meant industrial and material growth — toward a society whose values are less materialistic and more concerned with the quality of life and the environment. ❋ Unknown (1984)

Thomas was the first to make fruitful use of the term attitude, which he defined as a «tendency to act.» ❋ Robert Ezra Park (1926)

What they miss out on with this attitude is the joy that results from the effort. ❋ Unknown (2009)

He contrasts this with «destructively arrogant,» which he defines as an attitude that lacks empathy and reeks of insolence and vanity. ❋ M.D. Richard C. Senelick (2012)

And one other thing while I am at it, Sir, your attitude is the exact reason I left Ohio to return the Chattanooga after 2 years. ❋ Unknown (2009)

This attitude is accepted by all the others; forsooth, he is indeed a great man and master. ❋ Unknown (2010)

I think this attitude is an immense barrier to entry. ❋ Unknown (2009)

I think this attitude is the problem, and not economics or some union. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Yes, I love myself; and yes, my attitude is a notch or two above [email protected]#$%!. ❋ Unknown (2009)

But this attitude is the very opposite of what feminist is supposed to be about. ❋ Unknown (2009)

This attitude is all the more pronounced in those who hold leadership positions in the gay rights movement, as their life’s work depends upon the notion that we are always and everywhere oppressed. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Among West Indian and African families here in the US the attitude is the same. ❋ Unknown (2008)

Seriously their attitude is the selfsame thing as led to residential schools. ❋ Unknown (2008)

To be honest, Steve, your attitude is an emotional response which is not too unlike the unthinking emotional reactions of most criminals on July 24, 2008 at 3: 31 pm | Reply bobby ❋ Inspector Gadget (2008)

This attitude is the one that separates all of us daily regardless of whether it is an election year. ❋ Unknown (2008)

[parent]: «[how was your day] [billy]?»
billy «it was fin-»
parent «iS tHaT AtTiTudE i HeaR?!?» ❋ Deathisinnevitable (2019)

[Stood] in a [graceful] attitude ❋ Rishabh (2005)

[Jill] [sometimes] have an [attitude problem]. ❋ Gerard Irick (2009)

No one likes either [Sue] or her husband George, its because of their attitude. She walks in the room with her [sun] glasses and you could tell she had a [snotty] attitude. ❋ M.A (2006)

Jerry: Man, I will never be able to find a good job!
Paul: [Not with that attitude], you won’t!
Lisa: I’ll never get John to give me a [Las Vegas Chainsaw]!
[Jennifer]: Not with that attitude! ❋ Unkle_ruckus (2010)

[I don’t] have an [attitude problem] , It’s just that you can’t [handle] my personality ❋ Ba Baji (2014)

That [hoochie] is so attitudal…
[Carly]: She’s such a [skankrow]
Amanda: Girl, you’re so attitudal ❋ HoochieGirl (2005)

Attitude!
[It’s all] about the attitude, I don’t care if we win or [lose it’s] ALL ABOUT THE ATTITUDE!
If you want to play with the ball, go to soccer, this is football, again [it’s all] about the attitude! ❋ FRESHMAN FB 08 (2008)

Bitches with no [titties] be having the worst [attitude] [like damn] thought you got everything off your chest ❋ Janae Mcdan (2022)

[Parent]: Why you always got a attitude with me
Any kid:[Bc] you always starting [some bullshit] ❋ JBCTKC (2018)

Meaning Attitude

What does Attitude mean? Here you find 46 meanings of the word Attitude. You can also add a definition of Attitude yourself

1

0

 
0

The state of mind which makes us react in certain ways to social events or objects; a consistent pattern of thoughts, beliefs, emotions and reactions.

2

0

 
0

Attitude

 The learned, relatively stable tendency to respond to people, concepts, and events in an evaluative way.

3

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0

Attitude

The orientation of a planar or linear feature in three-dimensional space. Planar features that are not horizontal, such as tilted strata, are described by their strike, or the azimuth of the intersect [..]

4

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0

Attitude

Way of thinking, behaving, feeling, etc.

5

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Attitude

a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings «Behaviours have changed and attitudes have changed,» Mr Taylor said. — BBC (Feb 16, 2012)

6

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Attitude

1 [countable/uncountable] someone’s opinions or feelings about something, especially as shown by their behaviouran unhealthy social environment that encourages negative attitudesThe move reflects ch [..]

7

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0

Attitude

1 [countable] attitude (to/toward somebody/something) the way that you think and feel about someone or something; the way that you behave toward someone or something that shows how you think and feel [..]

8

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0

Attitude

1660s, via French attitude (17c.), from Italian attitudine «disposition, posture,» also «aptness, promptitude,» from Late Latin aptitudinem (nominative aptitudo; see aptitude). Ori [..]

9

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0

Attitude

Bright Idea Poster: “No Matter What Anyone Says” (October 2015 Friend)“Calvin’s Awesome Space Jet” (March 2015 Friend) Find out why Mom looked ready to cry.“The Candy Plan” (October 2 [..]

10

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Attitude

1. (consumer behavior definition) A person’s overall evaluation of a concept; an affective response involving general feelings of liking or favorability. 2. (consumer behavior definition) A cognitive process involving positive or negative valences, feelings, or emotions. An attitude toward an object always involves a stirred-up state—a positi [..]

11

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0

Attitude

The way a person views a situation or condition and then behaves accordingly. An important consideration in Team Building. [D02390]

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Attitude

a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways; "he had the attitude that work was fun" position: the arrangement of [..]

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Attitude

The position of an aircraft as determined by the relationship between its axes and some reference object such as the horizon.

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Attitude

Orientation of the spacecraft’s axes relative to Earth.

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Attitude

in social psychology, an enduring and general evaluation or cognitive schema relating to an object, person, group, issue, or concept. Strength and valence can vary, thus, an attitude can be negative o [..]

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Attitude

How the character feels about a certain product, or how an actor comes across in general.

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Attitude

An attitude is a tendency to perceive, feel or behave towards people or events in a particular manner.

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Attitude

(n) a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways(n) the arrangement of the body and its limbs(n) a theatrical pose created for effect(n)� [..]

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Attitude

An aircraft’s position in relation to the horizon (i.e., whether the aircraft is flying level, nose up, nose down, or banking left or right).

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Attitude

Attitudes describe an individual’s state of mind, developed with experience, that exerts a dynamic influence on individual behavior.

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Attitude

Complex mental state involving beliefs, feelings, values and dispositions to act in certain ways.

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Attitude

a person’s tendency to feel about certain people or situations in a particular way. The development of ‘positive’ attitudes in relevant areas is seen as important for effective learning [..]

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Attitude

The primary aircraft angles in the state vector; pitch, roll, and yaw;

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Attitude

Evaluation of people, objects, or issues about which an individual has some knowledge.

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Attitude

An enduring, learned predisposition to behave in a consistent way toward a given class of objects, or a persistent mental and/or neural state of readiness to react to a certain class of objects, not a [..]

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Attitude

Public Attitudes toward Health, Disease, and the medical care system.

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Attitude

Orientation of an aircraft with respect to the horizon (pitch and roll).

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Attitude

An enduring, learned predisposition to behave in a consistent way toward a given class of objects, or a persistent mental and/or neural state of readiness to react to a certain class of objects, not a [..]

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Attitude

A predisposition to behave in a certain way . A positive attitude toward science is a predisposition to behave in certain ways regarding science, including saying certain kinds of things, spending mon [..]

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Attitude

A frame of mind in favor of or opposed to a person, policy, belief, institution, topic, etc.

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Attitude

The position of a body as determined by the inclination of the axes to some other frame of reference. If not otherwise specified, this frame of reference is fixed to the earth.

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Not the pilot’s but the aircraft’s. Refers to the pitch angle of the aircraft; nose high or low. On a carrier landing, the LSO, a man of few words, may transmit the one word: «Attitude! [..]

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The primary aircraft angles in the state vector; pitch, roll, and yaw;

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Attitude

A vacuum powered instrument which displays pitch and roll movement about the lateral and longitudinal axes.

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Attitude

The nose position (up or down) and wings level or bank (left or right) in relation to the visual horizon and the attitude indicator

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Attitude

The primary aircraft angles in the state vector; pitch, roll, and yaw;

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Attitude

Position of airplane relative to the horizon, i.e., a climbing attitude, straight-and-level attitude, etc.

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Attitude

whether a defender does or does not want a suit led, or does or does not want to show strength in it. [A defender’s attitude toward a suit is usually described as «encouraging» or » [..]

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Attitude

Orientation of a space vehicle as determined by the relationship between its axes and some reference plane, e.g. the horizon.

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Attitude

A relatively stable belief or feeling about a concept, person or object. Attitudes can often be inferred by observing behaviours. Related to definition of values.

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Attitude

A person’s opinion about another person, thing, or state.

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Attitude

An attitude is «a psychological tendency that is expressed by evaluating a particular entity with some degree of favor or disfavor» (Eagly & Chaiken, 1993, p. 1). This tendency can be ex [..]

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Attitude

An attitude is a collection of values and beliefs around a particular subject or area of life. NLP enables us to discover someone’s values and beliefs, and also to assist them in changing them if ne [..]

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Attitude

noun

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Attitude

The position of the body or way of carrying oneself; posture.

»The ballet dancer walked with a graceful »’attitude.»»’

Disposition or state of mind.

»… but had a lazy attitude to work.’ [..]

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Attitude

the stance that individuals take on a subject that predisposes them to act and react in certain ways. Augmented product

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Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A manner of thinking, feeling, or behaving that reflects a state of mind or disposition.
  • noun Arrogant or aggressive disposition or behavior.
  • noun A position of the body or manner of carrying oneself: synonym: posture.
  • noun A position similar to an arabesque in which a ballet dancer stands on one leg with the other raised either in front or in back and bent at the knee.
  • noun The orientation of an aircraft’s axes relative to a reference line or plane, such as the horizon.
  • noun The orientation of a spacecraft relative to its direction of motion.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Posture or position of the body, or the manner in which its parts are disposed; especially, a posture or position as indicating emotion, purpose, etc., or as appropriate to the performance of some act.
  • noun Hence Any condition of things or relation of persons viewed as the expression of, or as affecting, feeling, opinion, intentions, etc.
  • noun In geology, the particular position or relation which the land bears at any time to the ocean.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Paint. & Sculp.) The posture, action, or disposition of a figure or a statue.
  • noun The posture or position of a person or an animal, or the manner in which the parts of his body are disposed; position assumed or studied to serve a purpose
  • noun Fig.: Position as indicating action, feeling, or mood
  • noun to take an attitude for mere effect.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The position of the body or way of carrying oneself; posture.
  • noun Disposition or state of mind.
  • noun uncountable, countable A negative, irritating, or irritated attitude; posturing.
  • noun aeronautics, nautical, engineering The orientation of a vehicle or other object relative to the horizon, direction of motion, other objects, etc.
  • noun ballet A position similar to arabesque, but with the raised leg bent at the knee.
  • verb To assume or to place in a particular position or orientation; to pose.
  • verb To express an attitude through one’s posture, bearing, tone of voice, etc.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
  • noun the arrangement of the body and its limbs
  • noun a theatrical pose created for effect
  • noun position of aircraft or spacecraft relative to a frame of reference (the horizon or direction of motion)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, from Italian attitudine, from Late Latin aptitūdō, aptitūdin-, faculty; see aptitude.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French attitude, from Italian attitudine («attitude, aptness»), from Medieval Latin aptitudo («aptitude»); see aptitude.

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Examples

  • Sports writers are even more left wing than political journalists, so viewing their political opinions as somehow signifying a popular shift in attitude is a mistake.

    Matthew Yglesias » Death Blows

  • On the Sunday morning news shows, massive change in attitude from the Dems.

    Scripting News for 11/12/2006 « Scripting News Annex

  • One of the major reasons for this change in attitude is that there’s more money around.

    USATODAY.com — Old-school guys teaching young teammates plenty

  • For some, it is an easy shorthand for a change in attitude from the search for growth — which largely meant industrial and material growth — toward a society whose values are less materialistic and more concerned with the quality of life and the environment.

    An Industrialist’s View of Britain

  • Thomas was the first to make fruitful use of the term attitude, which he defined as a «tendency to act.»

    Introduction to the Science of Sociology

  • What they miss out on with this attitude is the joy that results from the effort.

    Homemaking Without Worry

  • He contrasts this with «destructively arrogant,» which he defines as an attitude that lacks empathy and reeks of insolence and vanity.

    Richard C. Senelick, M.D.: I Don’t Think Physicians Are as Arrogant as You Do

  • He contrasts this with «destructively arrogant,» which he defines as an attitude that lacks empathy and reeks of insolence and vanity.

    Richard C. Senelick, M.D.: I Don’t Think Physicians Are as Arrogant as You Do

  • I think this attitude is an immense barrier to entry.

    We Are the Orcs at SF Novelists

  • This attitude is all the more pronounced in those who hold leadership positions in the gay rights movement, as their life’s work depends upon the notion that we are always and everywhere oppressed.

    Done Deal?

  • Top Definitions
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  • British

This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.

[ at-i-tood, -tyood ]

/ ˈæt ɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.


noun

manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, especially of the mind: a negative attitude; group attitudes.

position or posture of the body appropriate to or expressive of an action, emotion, etc.: a threatening attitude; a relaxed attitude.

Aeronautics. the inclination of the three principal axes of an aircraft relative to the wind, to the ground, etc.

Ballet. a pose in which the dancer stands on one leg, the other bent behind.

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Origin of attitude

First recorded in 1660–70; from French, from Italian attitudine, from Late Latin aptitūdini- (stem of aptitūdō ); see aptitude

synonym study for attitude

OTHER WORDS FROM attitude

at·ti·tu·di·nal [at-i-tood-n-l, —tyood-], /ˌæt ɪˈtud n l, -ˈtyud-/, adjective

Words nearby attitude

at times, attingent, attire, attirement, Attis, attitude, attitudinal, attitudinarian, attitudinize, Attius, Attleboro

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to attitude

angle, approach, belief, demeanor, mindset, mood, notion, outlook, perspective, philosophy, point of view, position, posture, reaction, sentiment, slant, stance, stand, standpoint, temperament

How to use attitude in a sentence

  • Instead of denying or neglecting it, or whatever attitude we had in the past, it’s time we all get together and start working on this very seriously.

  • Without much thought, I carried this attitude over into my work.

  • The more knowledge she gained regarding the object, the more her attitude towards it was reshaped.

  • It has taught me that we, ourselves, can choose our attitude every day.

  • Since then, I took a completely different attitude to management.

  • I think a lot of it has to do with the attitude and the energy behind it and the honesty.

  • From this attitude he draws a singular comic and literary power.

  • Alexander Stephens, vice president of the Confederacy, summed up the Southern attitude in his 1861 Cornerstone Speech.

  • In a way, this is worse than the racism of white supremacists, since this is thought to be an honorable attitude.

  • With his anachronistic attitude toward the biblical story, Bale is just following the lead of his director.

  • The dormant accounts most of the banks maintain with the reserve bank are, perhaps, indicative of their attitude toward it.

  • So much for the attitude of the various schools of religious thought towards the Bible.

  • Her eyes were blazing with triumph, yet her lips curved with contempt at the attitude of her trembling father.

  • His attitude was one of hopeless resignation as he looked toward a distant bird winging its flight away from him.

  • This tendency to take art-representations for realities reappears even in the mental attitude of a child towards his stories.

British Dictionary definitions for attitude


noun

the way a person views something or tends to behave towards it, often in an evaluative way

a theatrical pose created for effect (esp in the phrase strike an attitude)

a position of the body indicating mood or emotion

informal a hostile mannerdon’t give me attitude, my girl

the orientation of an aircraft’s axes in relation to some plane, esp the horizontalSee also axis 1 (def. 1)

the orientation of a spacecraft in relation to its direction of motion

ballet a classical position in which the body is upright and one leg raised and bent behind

Derived forms of attitude

attitudinal, adjective

Word Origin for attitude

C17: from French, from Italian attitudine disposition, from Late Latin aptitūdō fitness, from Latin aptus apt

Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Altitude.

Look up attitude in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Attitude may refer to:

Philosophy and psychology[edit]

  • Attitude (psychology), an individual’s predisposed state of mind regarding a value
  • Propositional attitude, a relational mental state connecting a person to a proposition

Mathematics and engineering[edit]

  • Orientation (geometry), also called attitude, an attribute of objects in space, which together with position determines their placement
  • Spacecraft attitude control, control of a spacecraft’s attitude
  • Flight dynamics (fixed-wing aircraft), the description and control of an aircraft’s attitude
  • Rotation formalisms in three dimensions, various mathematical descriptions of three-dimensional attitude

Television[edit]

  • Attitude (TV series), a New Zealand television show
  • Attitudes (TV series), an American television talk show on Lifetime Television

Music[edit]

  • Attitude Records, a record label
  • Attitudes (band), a 1970s pop/rock quartet

Albums[edit]

  • Attitude (April Wine album) (1993)
  • Attitude (Collette album) (1991)
  • Attitude (EP), a 2010 EP by Meisa Kuroki
  • Attitudes (Lorie album)
  • Attitude (Rip Rig + Panic album) (1983)
  • Attitudes (Demis Roussos album) (1982)
  • Attitude (Susperia album)
  • Attitude (Troop album) (1989)
  • Attitudes, a 1982 album by Brass Construction

Songs[edit]

  • «Attitude» (Alien Ant Farm song) (2002)
  • «Attitude» (The Kinks song) (1979)
  • «Attitude» (Misfits song) (1978)
  • «Attitude» (Sepultura song) (1996)
  • «Attitude» (Suede song) (2003)
  • «The Attitude», by Annihilator from Ballistic, Sadistic
  • «Attitude», by Bad Brains from Black Dots
  • «Attitude», by Nick Cannon from the self-titled album
  • «Attitude», by Fireflight from The Healing of Harms
  • «Attitude», by Information Society from the self-titled album
  • «Attitude», by Metallica from ReLoad

Other uses[edit]

  • Attitude (art), the posture or gesture given to a figure by a painter or sculptor
  • Attitude (ballet position), a ballet position in which the dancer stands on one leg with the other leg raised and turned out
  • Attitude (heraldry)
  • Attitude (obstetrics), an obstetrical term referring to the fetal head flexion at birth
  • Attitude (magazine), a British gay lifestyle magazine
  • Attitude: The New Subversive Cartoonists, an anthology of editorial cartoons
  • WWF Attitude, a 1999 video game
  • The Attitude Era, an era in the WWF
  • Dodge Attitude, a series of vehicles sold by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

There is very little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference! The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative. ~ Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude

Attitude is word indicating an evaluation of favor or disfavor toward persons, places, events, or one’s general environments, and things within them or beyond them. It can also denote something’s general correlation to some frame of reference.

Alphabetized by author or source:
A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W · X · Y · Z · External links

A[edit]

  • Desire is the key to motivation. It is the key to develop a healthy personality and a positive attitude towards oneself and others.
    • Amit Abraham, in Personality Development Through Positive Thinking (2004), p. 9

B[edit]

  • An attitude is almost like a muscle. You can chose to have a good one. Find ways to exercise it, and make it grow.
    • Jerry S. Beall, in There Will Always be a Tree (2010), p. 54
  • You can’t always control circumstances or people, but you chose your attitude
    Use one of those or make you own glad game for you and your family
    As much as possible, remove yourself from people who constantly have a bad attitude
    Let other people catch a healthy attitude from you.
    • Jerry S. Beall, in There Will Always be a Tree (2010), p. 54
  • Father, I want to have a good attitude. Help me to read your bible, and I pray that every Word will help me grow a good attitude. Help me to find good exercises to grow the attitude muscle, and to be carrier, helping influence others to a good attitude, in Jesus name. Amen.
    • Jerry S. Beall, in There Will Always be a Tree (2010), p. 55

C[edit]

The truth is that it is our attitude towards children that is right, and our attitude towards grown-up people that is wrong. ~ G. K. Chesterton
  • You must always be positive! And always smile! A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but being positive will affect many people to make it worth the effort.
    • Daniel Carver, in What’s Wrong with Management (2005), p. 10
  • The truth is that it is our attitude towards children that is right, and our attitude towards grown-up people that is wrong. Our attitude towards our equals in age consists in a servile solemnity, overlying a considerable degree of indifference or disdain. Our attitude towards children consists in a condescending indulgence, overlying an unfathomable respect.
    • G. K. Chesterton, in «A Defence of Baby-Worship» in The Defendant (1901)
  • Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
    • Winston Churchill, as quoted in Attitude : The Power of Positivity (2011), p. 56
  • You are the conductor of your own attitude! Nobody else can compose your thoughts for you.
    • Lee J. Colan, in Orchestrating Attitude (2005), p. 11
  • Have you ever thought about what makes you say things like; “that guy has a great attitude” or boy, her attitude is great or crummy. When most of us hear the word “attitude” we think of a fuzzy concept that somehow makes us happy, sad, content or frustrated.
    • Lee J. Colan, in Orchestrating Attitude (2005), p. 12
  • Our attitude is our personal boomerang to the world — Whatever we throw out will come back.
    • Lee J. Colan, in Orchestrating Attitude (2005), p. 13
  • Jesus was saying that you can’t have a larger life with restricted attitudes.
    • William E. Cripe, Sr., in The Proper Pursuit of Prosperity : Balancing the Promises of Heaven with the Experiences of Earth (2011), p. 167

D[edit]

  • A positive attitude from you tends to produce a positive attitude toward you. With negative attitude from you, a negative attitude towards you is often what occurs.
    • Deborah Day in Be Happy Now! : Become the Active Director of Your Life (2010), p. 25
  • Having a more productive attitude doesn’t mean you won’t still encounter obstacles. However the way you approach these obstacles will be more pro-active and self-directed. The better your attitude the better you will communicate.
    • Deborah Day in Be Happy Now! : Become the Active Director of Your Life (2010), p. 25
  • Affliction and Poverty were the circumstances, but joy was their attitude, and liberality was what they chose to demonstrate.
    • Stephen K. De Silva in Money and the Prosperous Soul : Tipping the Scales of Favor and Blessing (2010), p. 65
  • Men’s fundamental attitudes toward the world are fixed by the scope and qualities of the activities in which they partake.
    • John Dewey, in Democracy and Education (1916) , Section 10: Interest and Discipline
  • Some attitudes may be named… which are central in effective intellectual ways of dealing with subject matter. Among the most important are directness, open-mindedness, single-mindedness (or whole-heartedness), and responsibility.
    • John Dewey, in Democracy and Education (1916), [[s:Section_13#The_Traits_of_Individual_Method|Section 13: The Nature of Method : The Traits of Individual Method]
  • Taking an attitude is by no means identical with being conscious of one’s attitude. The former is spontaneous, naive, and simple. It is a sign of whole-souled relationship between a person and what he is dealing with. The latter is not of necessity abnormal. It is sometimes the easiest way of correcting a false method of approach, and of improving the effectiveness of the means one is employing, — as golf players, piano players, public speakers, etc., have occasionally to give especial attention to their position and movements. But this need is occasional and temporary.
    • John Dewey, in Democracy and Education (1916), Section 13: The Nature of Method : The Traits of Individual Method
  • The worst thing about stubbornness of mind, about prejudices, is that they arrest development; they shut off the mind from new stimuli. Open-mindedness means retention of the childlike attitude; closed-mindedness means premature intellectual old age.
    • John Dewey, in Democracy and Education (1916), Section 13: The Nature of Method : Open-mindedness
  • In one sense, knowledge is that which we take for granted. It is that which is settled, disposed of, established, under control. What we fully know, we do not need to think about. In common phrase, it is certain, assured. And this does not mean a mere feeling of certainty. It denotes not a sentiment, but a practical attitude, a readiness to act without reserve or quibble. Of course we may be mistaken. What is taken for knowledge — for fact and truth — at a given time may not be such. But everything which is assumed without question, which is taken for granted in our intercourse with one another and nature is what, at the given time, is called knowledge.
    • John Dewey, in Democracy and Education (1916), Section 22: The Individual and the World : Mind as the Agent of Reorganization
  • In the late eighteenth and the greater part of the nineteenth centuries appeared the first marked cultural shift in the attitude taken toward change. Under the names of indefinite perfectibility, progress, and evolution, the movement of things in the universe itself and of the universe as a whole began to take on a beneficent instead of hateful aspect.
    • John Dewey, in Time and Individuality (1940)

E[edit]

It seems to me that an anarchist attitude is the only one that is sufficiently radical in the face of a general statist system. ~ Jacques Ellul
It is our attitude toward events, not events themselves, which we can control. Nothing is by its own nature calamitous — even death is terrible only if we fear it. ~ Epictetus
  • I can understand your aversion to the use of the term «religion» to describe an emotional and psychological attitude which shows itself most clearly in Spinoza … I have not found a better expression than «religious» for the trust in the rational nature of reality that is, at least to a certain extent, accessible to human reason.
    • Albert Einstein, in a letter to Maurice Solovine, as quoted in Einstein : Science and Religion by Arnold V. Lesikar
  • Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character; it becomes lack of power to act with courage proportionate to danger. All this must lead to the destruction of our intellectual life unless the danger summons up strong personalities able to fill the lukewarm and discouraged with new strength and resolution.
    • Albert Einstein, in a speech made in honor of Thomas Mann in January 1939, when Mann was given the Einstein Prize given by the Jewish Forum. Quoted in Einstein Lived Here (1994) by Abraham Pais, p. 214
  • I do not believe that anarchist doctrine is the solution to the problem of organization in society and government. I do not think that if anarchism were to succeed we should have a better or more livable society. Hence I am not fighting for the triumph of this doctrine.
    On the other hand, it seems to me that an anarchist attitude is the only one that is sufficiently radical in the face of a general statist system.
    • Jacques Ellul, in The Ethics of Freedom (1973 — 1974), as translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley (1976)
  • What we have in mind is the attitude that conscientous objectors take on a specific point, and not without good reason. In the present set-up the anarchist attitude of a total refusal of validity or legitimacy to any authority of any kind seems to me to be the only valid and viable one. The point is not to enforce a particular view of society but to establish a counterbalance, a protest, a sign of cleavage. In face of an absolute power only a total confrontation has any meaning.
    • Jacques Ellul, in The Ethics of Freedom (1973 — 1974), as translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley (1976)
  • It is our attitude toward events, not events themselves, which we can control. Nothing is by its own nature calamitous — even death is terrible only if we fear it.
    • Epictetus quoted in Victims and Values : A History and a Theory of Suffering (1990) by Joseph Anthony Amato and David Monge, p. 36

F[edit]

There are so many myths out there about Marianne Faithfull, I had to, um, detach. But I can turn it on because Marianne Faithfull is really an attitude, you know. And what is that attitude? ~ Marianne Faithfull
  • There are so many myths out there about Marianne Faithfull, I had to, um, detach. But I can turn it on because Marianne Faithfull is really an attitude, you know. And what is that attitude? She picks up a forkful of mashed potatoes and smiles beatifically: «That attitude is: fuck off.»
    • Marianne Faithfull in «Marianne Faithfull: rocking 60s style» in The Guardian (16 February 2013)

G[edit]

My attitude is to give everyone some of my time. If I can contribute in any way to their happiness, that makes me happy. ~ Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
  • It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.
    • Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, in Kindness, Clarity, and Insight (1984)
  • The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy.
    • Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, as quoted in Why We Behave (2009) by Maurice Cayem, p. 92
  • The Great Vehicle path requires the vast motivation of a Bodhisattva, who, not seeking just his or her welfare, takes on the burden of bringing about the welfare of all sentient beings. When a person generate this attitude, they enter within the Great Vehicle, and as long as it has not been generated, one cannot be counted among those of the Great Vehicle. This attitude really has great power; it, of course, is helpful for people practicing religion, but it also is helpful for those who are just concerned with the affairs of this lifetime. The root of happiness is altruism — the wish to be of service to others.
    • Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, in The Dalai Lama at Harvard: Lectures on the Buddhist Path to Peace (1988) by Jeffrey Hopkins
  • I feel that the essence of spiritual practice is your attitude toward others. When you have a pure, sincere motivation, then you have right attitude toward others based on kindness, compassion, love and respect. Practice brings the clear realisation of the oneness of all human beings and the importance of others benefiting by your actions.
    • Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, answering the question «Your Holiness, there are many people in the West who want to combine their spiritual practice with social and political responsibility. Do you feel that these two aspects are connected?» in an interview with Catherine Ingram, Dharamsala, India (2 November 1988).
  • True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude towards others does not change even if they behave negatively. Genuine compassion is based not on our own projections and expectations, but rather on the needs of the other…
    • Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, in The Compassionate Life (2001), Ch. 2 «How to Develop Compassion» p. 21
  • My attitude is to give everyone some of my time. If I can contribute in any way to their happiness, that makes me happy.
    • Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, as quoted in «Westerners are too self-absorbed» by Alice Thomson, in The Daily Telegraph (1 March 2006)

H[edit]

  • Humiliating to human pride as it may be, we must recognize that the advance and even the preservation of civilization are dependent upon a maximum of opportunity for accidents to happen. These accidents occur in the combination of knowledge and attitudes, skills and habits, acquired by individual men and also when qualified men are confronted with the particular circumstances which they are equipped to deal with. Our necessary ignorance of so much means that we have to deal largely with probabilities and chances.
    • Friedrich Hayek, in The Constitution of Liberty (1960)
  • Conservatism proper is a legitimate, probably necessary, and certainly widespread attitude of opposition to drastic change.
    • Friedrich Hayek, in The Constitution of Liberty (1960), Why I Am Not a Conservative

I[edit]

  • In inexhaustible good nature is one of the most precious gifts of heave, spreading itself like oil over the trouble sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable in the roughest weather.
    • Washington Irving, in Every Day Quotes, p. 15

J[edit]

  • I have often thought that the best way to define a man’s character would be to seek out the particular mental or moral attitude in which, when it came upon him, he felt himself most deeply and intensely active and alive. At such moments there is a voice inside which speaks and says: «This is the real me!»
    • William James, in a letter to his wife, Alice Gibbons James (1878), published in The Letters of William James (1920)
  • The necessity of faith as an ingredient in our mental attitude is strongly insisted on by the scientific philosophers of the present day; but by a singularly arbitrary caprice they say that it is only legitimate when used in the interests of one particular proposition, — the proposition, namely, that the course of nature is uniform. That nature will follow to-morrow the same laws that she follows to-day is, they all admit, a truth which no man can know; but in the interests of cognition as well as of action we must postulate or assume it.
    • William James, in The Sentiment of Rationality (1882)
  • I can, of course, put myself into the sectarian scientist’s attitude, and imagine vividly that the world of sensations and scientific laws and objects may be all. But whenever I do this, I hear that inward monitor of which W. K. Clifford once wrote, whispering the word «bosh!» Humbug is humbug, even though it bear the scientific name, and the total expression of human experience, as I view it objectively, invincibly urges me beyond the narrow «scientific» bounds.
    • William James, in The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902), Lecture XX «Conclusions»
  • An attitude of orientation, is what the pragmatic method means. The attitude of looking away from first things, principles, «categories», supposed necessities; and of looking towards last things, fruits, consequences, facts.
    • William James, in Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking (1907)
  • Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goall nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.
    • Thomas Jefferson, in Wisdom for the Soul: Five Millennia of Prescriptions for Spiritual Healing, p. 68

K[edit]

  • You may not be able to change a situation, but with humor you can change your attitude about it.
    • Allen Klein, as quoted in The Home Office Solution (1998) by Alice Bredin, p. 33
  • Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up.
    • Allen Klein, as quoted in Soul Rays : Discover the Vibratory Frequency of Your Soul (2013) by Candia L. Sanders, p. 125

L[edit]

A picture or representation of human figures, ought to be done in such a way as that the spectator may easily recognise, by means of their attitudes, the purpose in their minds. ~ Leonardo da Vinci
Good culture is born of a good disposition; and since the cause is more to be praised than the effect, I will rather praise a good disposition without culture, than good culture without the disposition. ~ Leonardo da Vinci
  • A picture or representation of human figures, ought to be done in such a way as that the spectator may easily recognise, by means of their attitudes, the purpose in their minds.
    • Leonardo da Vinci, in The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (Richter, 1888), IX The Practice of Painting
  • Any one who in discussion relies upon authority uses, not his understanding, but rather his memory. Good culture is born of a good disposition; and since the cause is more to be praised than the effect, I will rather praise a good disposition without culture, than good culture without the disposition.
    • Leonardo da Vinci, in The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (Richter, 1888), XIX Philosophical Maxims. Morals. Polemics and Speculations
  • A man’s attitude goes some ways, the way his life will be.
    • David Lynch, Mulholland Drive (2001), interpreted by Monty Montgomery as The Cowboy.

M[edit]

  • Attitude…
    It is the “advance man” of our true selves.
    Its roots are inward but its fruit is outward.
    It is our best friend or our worst enemy.
    It is more honest and more consistent than our words.
    It is an outward look based on past experiences.
    It is a thing which draws people to us or repels them.
    It is never content until it is expressed.
    It is the librarian of our past.
    It is the speaker of the present.
    It is the prophet of our future.
    • John Maxwell, in Attitude 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know, p. 4
  • Be a little dog with a big dog attitude. Your attitude is the little thing that makes a big difference.
    • Peggy McColl in Be A Dog with a Bone : Always Go for Your Dreams (2009), p. 3
  • Charles Swindoll—author, educator, and Christian pastor—said: “Attitude, to me, is more important than … the past, …than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
    • Thomas S. Monson, in Living the Abundant Life (2004)
  • A in my ABCs refers to attitude. William James, a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher, wrote, “The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.”
    • Thomas S. Monson, in Living the Abundant Life (2004)
  • So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment.
    • Thomas S. Monson, in Living the Abundant Life (2004)
  • Your attitude comes from inside. When you are able to relax and let your true personality shine through, you come across as confident and interesting. You appear to like, respect, and believe in yourself. When that happens, people like being around you. They like working with you, and they trust your competence level. They know that you will make certain that things are done right.
    Your appearance, attitude, and confidence define you as a person.
    A professional, well-dressed golfer, like a businessperson, gives the impression that he thinks that the golf course and/or workplace and the people there are important.
    • Lorii Myers in Off the Tee : Targeting Success : Develop the Right Business Attitude to be Successful in the Workplace (2011), p. 55

N[edit]

  • Consistent Execution+Proven Strategy (and Right Prospects)+Attitude/Characteristics (Confident, Best Thinking, Enthusiastic, Creative, Resilient, Persistent, Driven, Intuitive, Honorable, Seeks to Serve/Learn, Self-aware, Coachable, Etc,)+Communications Style = Success.
    • Michael J. Nick in The Key to the C-Suite : What You Need to Know to Sell Successfully to Top Executives (2011). p. 167

O[edit]

Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you’re going to live your life. ~ Joel Osteen
  • Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you’re going to live your life.
    • Joel Osteen, as quoted in Eyes Closed, Too Hear (2010) by R.J. Woodward, p. 17

P[edit]

  • Attitude is everything. Having the right attitude is fundamental to being an effective leader. Every one enjoys being around a person who is helpful and searches for solutions. A positive attitude also looks for the good in everything instead of the bad. And why shouldn’t you have a positive attitude?
    • Philippinas quoted in A Leader After God’s Own Heart : 15 Ways to Lead with Strength (2012) by Jim George, p. 17

Q[edit]

R[edit]

I contend to be a fighter for pureness and truth. I hesitate, because I am afraid of you and your attitude towards truth. To say the truth about you is dangerous to life. ~ Wilhelm Reich
  • In part by their apathy, in part by their passivity, and in part actively, these masses of people make possible the catastrophes under which they themselves suffer more than anybody else. To stress this guilt on the part of masses of people, to hold them solely responsible, means to take them seriously. On the other hand, to commiserate masses of people as victims, means to treat them as small, helpless children. The former is the attitude held by genuine freedom-fighters; the latter the attitude held by the power-thirsty politicians.
    • Wilhelm Reich, in The Mass Psychology of Fascism (1933), Ch. 10 : Work Democracy, Section 3 : Work Democracy versus Politics. The Natural Social Forces for the Mastery of the Emotional Plague
  • I contend to be a fighter for pureness and truth. I hesitate, because I am afraid of you and your attitude towards truth. To say the truth about you is dangerous to life.
    • Wilhelm Reich, in Listen, Little Man! (1948)
  • Peace is a great good; and doubly harmful, therefore, is the attitude of those who advocate it in terms that would make it synonymous with selfish and cowardly shrinking from warring against the existence of evil.
    • Theodore Roosevelt, in «Expansion and Peace» published in the «Independent» (21 October 1899), later in The Strenuous Life: Essays and Addresses (1900)
  • These two attitudes, the attitude of deifying mere efficiency, mere success, without regard to the moral qualities lying behind it, and the attitude of disregarding efficiency, disregarding practical results, are the Scylla and Charybdis between which every earnest reformer, every politician who desires to make the name of his profession a term of honor instead of shame, must steer. He must avoid both under penalty of wreckage, and it avails him nothing to have avoided one, if he founders on the other. People are apt to speak as if in political life, public life, it ought to be a mere case of striving upward — striving toward a high peak. The simile is inexact. Every man who is striving to do good public work is traveling along a ridge crest, with the gulf of failure on each side — the gulf of inefficiency on the one side, the gulf of unrighteousness on the other.
    • Theodore Roosevelt, in «Latitude and Longitude among Reformers» in the «Century» (June 1900), later in The Strenuous Life : Essays and Addresses (1900)
  • The vast individual and corporate fortunes, the vast combinations of capital, which have marked the development of our industrial system create new conditions, and necessitate a change from the old attitude of the state and the nation toward property.
    • Theodore Roosevelt, in «National Duties», an address at the Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul (2 September 1901), later in The Strenuous Life : Essays and Addresses (1902 edition)
    • Your attitude about who you are and what you have is a very little thing that makes a very big difference.
    • Theodore Roosevelt, in “Wisdom for the Soul: Five Millennia of Prescriptions for Spiritual Healing”, in p. 70
  • In studying a philosopher, the right attitude is nether reverence nor contempt, but first a kind of hypothetical sympathy, until it is possible to know what it feels like to believe in his theories, and only then a revival of the critical attitude, which should resemble, as far as possible, the state of mind of a person abandoning opinions which he has hitherto held. Contempt interferes with the first part of this process, and reverence with the second.
    • Bertrand Russell, in A History of Western Philosophy (1945), Book One, Ancient Philosophy, Part I, Chapter IV, Heraclitus, p. 39
  • The attitude of capitalists to war, it is true, has fluctuated… In modern times, big business, everywhere, has come into such intimate relations with the national State that the situation is greatly changed. But even now, both in England and in America, big business on the whole dislikes war.
    • Bertrand Russell, in A History of Western Philosophy (1945), Book Three, Part I, Chapter XV, Locke’s Influence, p. 646
  • The attitude of man toward the non-human environment has differed profoundly at different times. The Greeks, with their dread of hubris and their belief in a Necessity or Fate superior even to Zeus, carefully avoided what would have seemed to them insolence towards the universe. The Middle Ages carried submission much further: humility towards God was a Christian’s first duty. Initiative was cramped by this attitude, and great originality was scarcely possible. The Renaissance restored human pride, but carried it to the point where it led to anarchy and disaster. Its works were largely undone by the Reformation and the Counter-reformation. But modern technique, while not altogether favorable to the lordly individual of the Renaissance, has revived the sense of the collective power of human communities. Man, formerly too humble, begins to think of himself as almost a God.
    • Bertrand Russell, in A History of Western Philosophy (1945), Book Three, Part II, Chapter XXX, John Dewey, p. 827

S[edit]

A healthy attitude is contagious; but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier. ~ Tom Stoppard
  • There is very little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference! The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.
    • W. Clement Stone and Napoleon Hill in Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, Ch. 18 : Can You Attract Happiness?
  • A healthy attitude is contagious; but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.
    • Tom Stoppard, quoted in There Will Always be a Tree (2010), p. 54

T[edit]

  • An attitude of positive expectation is the mark of the superior personality.
    • Brian Tracy, in Achieving Your Promises : How To Reverse Your Circumstances And Realize Your Dreams (2008) by Timothy Ryan Patton, p. 126

U[edit]

W[edit]

  • Dr. Reich vastly offended many people by his sociological theory, which holds that fascism is just an exaggerated form of the basic structure of sex-negative societies and has existed under other names in every civilization based on sexual repression. In this theory, the character and muscular armor of the average citizen — a submissive and frightened attitude anchored in body reflexes — causes the average person to want a strong authority figure above them. Tyranny, in this model, is not created by tyrants alone but by neurotic masses who want tyrants.
    • Robert Anton Wilson, in Everything Is Under Control : Conspiracies, Cults, and Cover-Ups (1998), p. 361

X[edit]

  • America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem. Throughout my travels in the Muslim world, I have met, talked to, even eaten with people who in America would have been considered ‘white,’ but the ‘white’ attitude had been removed from their minds by the religion of Islam.
    • Malcolm X, in New World Metaphysics : Readings on the Religious Meaning of the American Experience (1981) by Giles B. Gunn, p. 438

Y[edit]

  • The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach.
    • Lin Yutang, in The Speaker’s Quote Book: Over 5,000 Illustrations and Quotations for All …, p. 109

Z[edit]

  • I think bands that rolled in with a big attitude, like they were some big deal, I just found that very strange.
    • Rob Zombie, in «Zombie’s tips for zeroes» in Class Rock Magazine (20 July 2012)

External links[edit]

Wikipedia
Wikipedia

отношение, позиция, мироощущение, поза, осанка, положение самолета в воздухе

существительное

- позиция, отношение

friendly [impartial] attitude towards smb. — дружеское [беспристрастное] отношение к кому-л.
to adopt an intransigent attitude over smth. — занять непреклонную позицию по отношению к чему-л.
attitude of mind — склад ума
what’s your attitude towards this question? — как вы относитесь к этому вопросу?

- положение, поза, осанка

hesitating [melancholy] attitude — нерешительная [задумчивая] поза
attitude of pride [arrogance] — гордая [надменная] поза
attitude of admiration [despair] — поза, выражающая восхищение [отчаяние]
to assume /to adopt/ the attitude of a boxer ready to fight — принять стойку боксёра, приготовившегося к бою

- иск. поза (в изобразительном искусстве)
- аттитюд (в классическом балете)
- спец. (пространное) положение
- психол. социальная установка
- геол. залегание

to strike an attitude — неодобр. а) встать в позу, упереться; б) принять эффектную /театральную/ позу
he is always striking a pious attitude — он всегда старается выставить напоказ свою набожность

Мои примеры

Словосочетания

the church’s attitude toward divorce — отношение церкви к разводу  
the apathetic attitude of the public — равнодушное отношение общественности  
a cavalier attitude to the laws — пренебрежительное отношение к закону  
the healthy attitude of French laws — здравая позиция французского законодательства  
conscientious attitude — сознательное отношение  
attitude eloquent of discouragement — поза, выражающая уныние  
lukewarm attitude — равнодушное отношение  
militant attitude — агрессивная позиция  
stiff-necked attitude — негибкая позиция  
subservient attitude to smb. — рабское отношение к кому-л.  
uncompromising in one’s attitude — непреклонный по отношению к кому-л.  
belligerent / defiant / surly attitude — воинственное, агрессивное отношение  

Примеры с переводом

I do not like his attitude at all.

Мне совсем не нравится его отношение.

You need to change your bad attitude.

Вам нужно изменить своё отношение к жизни.

His attitude towards women really scares me.

Его отношение к женщинам меня просто пугает.

It upset me to learn of their attitude.

Я огорчился, узнав их мнение.

As soon as they found out I was a doctor their whole attitude changed.

Узнав, что я врач, они сразу же стали относиться ко мне совсем по-другому.

His attitude was forbidding.

Он держал себя неприступно.

His whole attitude bugs me.

Меня бесит весь этот его гонор.

ещё 23 примера свернуть

Примеры, ожидающие перевода

…the claim that the state’s long-standing antitax attitude is conducive to entrepreneurship…

But his attitude of sullen grievance and simmering fury never abated fully.

Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке , напротив примера.

Формы слова

noun
ед. ч.(singular): attitude
мн. ч.(plural): attitudes

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