What do we call the attitudes people may subconsciously hold or lack awareness of?

The term used to describe attitudes that people may subconsciously hold or are not aware of is "implicit attitudes." These attitudes are formed through personal experiences and cultural influences, often operating outside of conscious awareness. Implicit attitudes can significantly impact behavior and decision-making without individuals realizing the influence they have.

In contrast, explicit attitudes are those that individuals can consciously reflect upon and report. Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort experienced when holding two or more conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or values, which is a different concept altogether. Conditioned attitudes usually arise from learning through conditioning processes, but they do not necessarily imply a lack of awareness.

Therefore, the correct understanding lies in recognizing that implicit attitudes are those that are not readily accessible to conscious awareness, shaping behaviors in subtle ways.