Viðhorfi

Viðhorfi is the dative singular form of the Icelandic noun viðhorf, which denotes attitude, viewpoint, or stance. The term can refer to an individual’s personal disposition as well as the broader perspectives held by groups, organizations, or societies. In usage, it often appears in contexts related to opinion, policy preferences, or how events are interpreted.

The base noun viðhorf means attitude or viewpoint. Its inflected forms include viðhorft (accusative), viðhorfs (genitive), viðhorfið (definite singular), and viðhorfi (dative singular). The dative form commonly appears after prepositions or verbs that require the dative, for example after til or með, and in phrases expressing changes of attitude, such as breyta viðhorfi sínu (to change one’s attitude).

Usage and context: In academia and public discourse, viðhorf is used to describe how people or stakeholders feel about a topic, policy, or event. It is frequently employed in surveys and reports as a synonym for public opinion or credibility of a stance. In everyday language, it can denote a person's outlook or approach to life, work, or social issues. Related terms include afstaða (stance), skoðun (opinion), and sjónarmið (perspective). The concept is central to analyses in social science, politics, and media, where shifts in viðhorf may indicate changing norms or responses to new information.

See also: Afstaða, Sjónarmið, Sálfræði og samfélagsfræði, Viðhorfskannanir. Note that while viðhorfi specifically marks the dative singular form, the word’s core meaning remains attitudinal and perspectival across forms and contexts.