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What component of attitude involves thoughts and beliefs?

  1. Cognition

  2. Affect

  3. Behavior

  4. Emotion

The correct answer is: Cognition

The correct answer is cognition because it specifically refers to the mental processes related to thoughts, beliefs, and opinions that individuals hold about a particular subject or object. When discussing attitudes in psychology, cognition encompasses how people process information or analyze situations, which ultimately shapes their perspective and beliefs. Attitude components are typically divided into three categories: cognition, affect, and behavior. Affect involves the emotional responses and feelings one has toward an object or situation, while behavior pertains to the actions or intentions one may demonstrate as a result of their attitudes. Emotion, while related, is generally more focused on immediate feelings rather than the structured beliefs and thoughts that cognition encapsulates. Thus, cognition is the primary component that deals with the mental evaluation of beliefs and thoughts regarding attitudes.