the model presented by Rosenberg and Hovland (1960), who believed that attitudes consist of three interrelated components:
1) Cognitive component: reflects the beliefs, ideas, and information that a person has about the topic of the attitude. For example, if the theme of the attitude is “smoking,” beliefs might be, “Smoking causes heart disease” or “Smoking helps you relax.” This component reflects the mental/cognitive aspect related to the function of perception and logical evaluation, and is influenced by cognitive sources (education, media, personal experience).
2) Affective component: positive or negative feelings and emotions that the object of the attitude evokes in a person. For example, one person may feel disgust or fear at the thought of smoking, while another may experience pleasure or relief. This emotional aspect is most important for determining the strength and stability of the attitude, since it is directly related to deep emotional experiences.
3) Behavioral component: these are behavioral predispositions that encourage a person to act in a certain way in relation to the object of the attitude. That is, it reflects a tendency towards the expected action or reaction. For example, one person may decide to “avoid smokers” or “abstain from smoking,” while another may insist on “smoking with friends.” This component is considered to be the link between thoughts and feelings and practical actions in everyday life.