The concept of ’Balance’ in Attitude Change is explained below. Identify the correct options:

(A) Fritz Heider described this change in the form of P-O-X triangle, which explains the relationship between the aspects.
(B) Pistheperson whoseattitude is being studied. O is another person, X is the topic towards which the attitude is studied.
(C) Attitude changes if there is a state of imbalance between P-O, O-X, and P-X attitudes.
(D) Imbalance is found when all three sides are positive.
(E) Balance is found when all three sides of the P-O-X triangle are negative.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is (A), (B) & (C) only.

Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

Fritz Heider's Balance Theory is a prominent social psychology theory that explains how people desire consistency in their interpersonal relationships and attitudes towards objects or topics. Let us evaluate each statement based on Heider's theory to understand why option (A), (B) & (C) only is correct:

Statement (A): Fritz Heider described this change in the form of P-O-X triangle, which explains the relationship between the aspects.
This statement is correct. Heider represented the cognitive consistency of attitudes using a triadic system known as the P-O-X triangle (or triad), which models the relationships between three elements.

Statement (B): P is the person whose attitude is being studied. O is another person, X is the topic towards which the attitude is studied.
This statement is correct. In Heider's P-O-X model:
- P represents the Person (the focal subject whose cognitive system is analyzed).
- O represents another Person.
- X represents an object, event, idea, or third person (the attitude object or topic).

Statement (C): Attitude changes if there is a state of imbalance between P-O, O-X, and P-X attitudes.
This statement is correct. According to Heider, a state of imbalance is psychologically uncomfortable or unstable. This cognitive discomfort creates tension and motivates the person (P) to change one or more attitudes in the triad (P-O, O-X, or P-X relationships) to restore a state of balance.

Statement (D): Imbalance is found when all three sides are positive.
This statement is incorrect. Mathematically and conceptually in Heider's theory, the state of the triad is determined by multiplying the signs of the three relationships (positive (+) or negative (-)). If the product of the three signs is positive (+), the system is in a state of balance.
When all three sides are positive:
$$(+)\times (+)\times (+)=+$$ Since the product is positive, having all three positive sides represents a balanced state, not an imbalanced one (e.g., P likes O, O likes X, and P likes X).

Statement (E): Balance is found when all three sides of the P-O-X triangle are negative.
This statement is incorrect. If all three sides are negative:
$$(-)\times (-)\times (-)=-$$ Since the product of three negative signs is negative (-), this state is considered imbalanced and unstable (e.g., P dislikes O, O dislikes X, and P dislikes X).

Therefore, only statements (A), (B), and (C) are correct descriptions of Fritz Heider's Balance Theory.