Final answer:
Casey's disdain for children's behavior despite claiming to love them is indicative of an implicit attitude, which is subconscious and might not align with her explicit claims.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Casey claims to love kids but consistently seems annoyed by them, it's likely that there is a mismatch between her stated feelings and her automatic, unconscious reactions. This scenario is best explained by the concept of an implicit attitude, which refers to the attitudes or feelings that one has about a person or thing on a subconscious level.
Implicit attitudes can be different or even completely opposite from the attitudes we express explicitly. In contrast to explicit attitudes, which are the beliefs and feelings we consciously endorse and report, implicit attitudes are not always accessible through introspection, and they can influence behavior in ways that a person might not be aware of or might not wish to acknowledge. Casey's behavior suggests her implicit attitude towards children might be negative, even though her explicit attitude — reflected in her statement that she loves kids — seems positive.
Understanding implicit attitudes is crucial as they can impact actions and judgments in significant ways. They often come to light through indirect measures or by observing someone's spontaneous reactions in everyday situations. If Casey intends to align her actions with her stated attitudes, awareness of her implicit feelings can be a first step towards change.