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Bill thinks that drug use is bad, but he has friends who use illicit drugs and he sometimes gets high himself. Socializing with drug users and using drugs himself illustrate which component of attitude?

User Xamgore
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Final answer:

Bill's actions of socializing with drug users and partaking in drug use himself, despite believing that drug use is bad, illustrate the behavioral component of attitude. He experiences cognitive dissonance due to the misalignment between his beliefs and behaviors.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario described where Bill thinks that drug use is bad, but he has friends who use illicit drugs and sometimes gets high himself, the component of attitude illustrated is the behavioral component. The behavioral component reflects how our attitudes influence our actions or behaviors. Despite Bill's negative attitude towards drug use, his actions do not align with his beliefs due to the influence of his social circle and personal behaviors related to drug use.

The presence of cognitive dissonance is also evident here as Bill experiences tension between his beliefs (cognitive component) and his actions (behavioral component). Social pressures and the desire to conform can lead to behaviors that conflict with one's personal beliefs, as seen in Bill's situation. This internal conflict can sometimes lead individuals to change their behavior, attitudes, or cognitions to reduce the dissonance they experience.

User Zored
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