ATTRIBUTION THEORY Attribution – a decision about the basis of a person’s behavior Theorists: Fritz Heider (1958) Bernard Weiner (1979)

Attribution Theory – General Principles argues that people look for an explanation of behaviour which may use internal or external attributes is a Social Theory which may be classified as a Cognitive Theory.

Attribution Theory – General Principles explains how the average person constructs the meaning of an event based on ◦one’s motives to find a cause ◦one’s knowledge of the environment/situation

Attribution Theory explains Bystander effect Eyewitness studies Hearst syndrome – victim assumes responsibility for what happens

Fundamental Attribution Error When attributing others’ actions: – internal disposition (e.g. personality traits, intelligence) takes precedence over external situation (e.g. task difficulty, accident, luck) When attributing own behaviour: − external situation takes precedence over internal disposition

Fritz Heider’s Attribution Theory: People usually attribute other’s behaviour to: ◦ their internal disposition (Personal Attribution) ◦ external situation (Situational Attribution) Three Step Process: 1.Perceive the action 2.Judge the intention 3.Attribute the disposition – internal or external

internal external Check out the following cartoon strips and practice identifying internal and external attributions:

Weiner’s Attribution Theory Three dimensions of Attribution 1.Locus of causality – internal or external? 2.Stability – is the cause a stable or unstable one (over time)? 3.Controllability/Responsibility – to what extent is future task performance under the person’s control?

Four Attributional Factors as described in Weiner’s original Attribution Model: STABILITY DIMENSION LOCUS OF CAUSALITY INTERNALEXTERNAL STABLEABILITY TASK DIFFICULTY UNSTABLEEFFORTLUCK

Applying Weiner’s Attribution Theory to students’ attributions for failure in school: INTERNALEXTERNAL STABLE (Ability) UNSTABLE (Effort) STABLE (Task Difficulty) UNSTABLE (Luck) CONTROLLABLE It is not my area of interest. I didn’t study well for this Exam. The teacher hates me. Little or no support from family & friends. UNCONTROL- LABLE I don’t have the skills nor ability. I was sick.School has very high standards. Bad luck!

Applying Weiner’s Attribution Theory: INTERNALEXTERNAL STABLE (Ability) UNSTABLE (Effort) STABLE (Task Difficulty) UNSTABLE (Luck) CONTROLLABLE UNCONTROL- LABLE OPTIMISTS will attribute success (positive event) as a product of internal and stable causes. Failure (negative event) is seen as a product of external, unstable causes. OPTIMISTS will attribute success (positive event) as a product of internal and stable causes. Failure (negative event) is seen as a product of external, unstable causes. PESSIMISTS will do the opposite.

Optimist’s view of success Sit a test High marks Pleasure Causal Analysis: I have the ability and developed the skill Pride Subsequent behaviour: I can do this! (Persist in task) Subsequent behaviour: Persist in the task

Pessimist’s view of success Sit a test High marks Doubts Causal Analysis: I was just Lucky! Insecurity Subsequent behaviour: I don’t know if I can do this again. (Give up) Subsequent behaviour: Give up

Applications of attribution theory Interpersonal relationships Most commonly used in relation to marital success e.g. Fincham & O’Leary, 1983 ◦ happily married individuals tend to credit partners for positive behaviour by citing internal, stable, global & controllable factors to explain them ◦ Negative behaviour is explained away by ascribing to external, unstable, specific & uncontrollable causes ◦ Distressed couples do the opposite