In contemporary psychological literature, attitude has
been defined as ‘a psychological tendency that is expressed
by evaluating a particular entity with some degree of favor
or disfavor’ (Eagly & Shelly 2007, p. 598). The essential
features of this definition include an evaluation, the object
of that evaluation and a tendency to respond towards an
object with some degree of positivity or negativity based on
past experience. The evaluative aspect of this definition can
be overt (consciously held) or covert (unconscious), as well
as being affective (feelings, emotions), cognitive (beliefs,
thoughts) or behavioural (intentions, overt behaviour). For
example, undergraduate nursing students could be inspired
by the work of mental health nurses (affect), believe that
nurses have a positive effect on the lives of consumers
(cognition) and intend to pursue careers in mental health
nursing (behaviour).