Attitudes or Actions? Which Comes First?
Next time you’re in a group setting take a vote by show of hands. Ask who thinks attitudes precede actions and who thinks actions precede attitudes. A number of people will grumble if you lay down the law and insist that they can only vote for one; nothing in the middle.
But my informal polling through the years indicates most people think attitudes precede actions, by significant margin. And why not? It just makes sense that our outer lives will be an expression of what’s inside us. I couldn’t agree more – other than when I disagree.
So I have to admit, the non-commits are probably right. Sometimes attitudes precede actions, but often actions precede attitudes.
Want to help a teen feel compassion? You can teach all the principles of generosity until you are blue in the face with little result, but take that same young person on a mission trip and he or she will come home feeling compassionate. Want to get excited about losing weight? Don’t read another diet article. Just lose a few pounds and you’ll tell everyone you know more than they ever wanted to know – and maybe more than you’ve actually figured out yourself – about your eating and exercise habits. Yep. No question. Action precedes attitude.
But there are too many exceptions to make a hard and fast rule on the topic. In 1968 Robert Rosenthal of Harvard published Pygmalion in the Classroom, the legendary study that showed how teacher expectations positively or negatively impacted student achievement – the law of self-fulfilling prophecy where attitude goes before action.
So what comes first in the state of the US economy today? Do fundamental metrics change, causing investor, business, and consumer confidence to lift and turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy that drives growth? Or does the negative news cycle spin, which many are complaining is compounding problems, have to change before investors, businesses, and consumers break free from the current inertia? Will attitude or action come first in turning our economy around?
These questions can apply to morality … patriotism … service … marriage relationships … happiness … and the list can go on and on.
I’d ask for a show of hands but I’m not sure how I’ll vote myself. And your vote my change my attitude for me!
My inclination is to vote “attitude.” Although you make a good argument for the power of action to change an attitude.
Perhaps the teen in your example is “following orders” at first and becomes personally engaged when his or her heart (attitude) is changed as a result.
In the instance of our current economy, I would say that attitude could go a along way but we have so many different groups of people whose attitudes all need to line up.
Consumers may believe in the president’s optimism but unless bankers share that hope the money won’t flow and consumers will become cynical.
I am generally an “evolutionist” – looking for small steady change, as it tends to last longer. But there are rare occasions when change needs to come in a wave – a revolution – and our current dilemma looks to be crying out for a revolutionary approach – with new rules, new business models and new attitudes.
Great comments Jim. I go along with incremental change being the way to go as well. But I still believe that happens best with a free market economy. We are experiencing change!
Great comments Jim. I go along with incremental change being the way to go as well. But I still believe that happens best with a free market economy. We are experiencing change!
I’m for getting to the heart of the matter, Mark; the heart of the classroom, boardroom, family room, and of course, America. The heart of America is her people. The virtue of America is freedom and democracy.
I believe the core of “attitude” counts in every matter of life and every corner of life. It will make or break every classroom, boardroom, family room, and economic circumstance. America is no exception to this rule.
The core of “action” is usually the result of motivation, inspiration, experience and/or simply choice.
I have found as a parent, the best methods usually involve the synergy of both attitude and action. As a mother, I usually inspire attitude and facilitate action very much at the same time.
With regards to our economy, I will leave you with the admired words of Winston Churchill: “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”
As for my house, and me “We will serve the Lord Jesus Christ and stand for freedom and democracy.”
Michelle
Great thoughts and I love that Churchill quote!
Some people regard private enterprise as a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look on it as a cow they can milk. Not enough people see it as a healthy horse, pulling a sturdy wagon.
Winston Churchill
Ok! You hit a button Mark…I have always passed on Churchill quotes to my kids via email. Our treasured free market economy is simply a direct result of liberty.
I would have thoroughly enjoyed Churchill as a neighbor!
Have fun! Michelle