1. Billy the Bully This is Billy.
Everyday Billy steals lunch money from his poor, defenseless classmates.
Why does Billy do this?
The basis of this question relates to the concept of … Attribution Theory.

2. Attribution Theory
suggests how we explain the causes of behavior and events
We credit that behavior either to the situation….
…or to the person’s internal disposition.
Is Billy a bully because his parents treated him badly and he learned it from them?
Or is Billy a bully because he’s just naturally a jerk?

3. Billy’s Dispositional Factors
Billy comes into class each day and is always hostile toward everyone. He tells the teacher the class is a waste of time and that he already knows more than the teacher could possibly teach him. Additionally, he makes fun of other kids and constantly misbehaves to be the center of attention.
Using attribution theory, how could you explain Billy’s behavior?
Situational Factors
*Billy’s parents are getting divorced and he is lashing out *Billy has a bad memory of a teacher picking on him and now dislikes all teachers *Billy has class right before lunch and his hunger makes him wish class was over, * Other kids are mean to Billy first
Billy’s Dispositional Factors
*Aggressive personality, lazy, disrespectful, cold-hearted, cruel

4. Attribution At Work (another example)
Use attribution theory for the following question: Why is this cop writing the driver a ticket?
Situational Factors
Dispositional Factors (of the cop)
Cop needs to hit quota for the month
Cop enjoys inflicting pain on people
The driver was speeding and deserved it
The cop’s wife divorced him that morning
This is pretty simple, but the key question is… when do we as people typically attribute either “the situation” or a person’s “disposition” to a behavior? Well, it’s a little complex.

5. Why Did My Classmate Fail the Test?
When do we as people typically attribute either “the situation” or a person’s “disposition” to a behavior?
Self-Serving Bias
Fundamental Attribution Error
the tendency for an individual to maintain self-esteem by attributing positive events to their own character but negative events to external factors
people’s tendency to place undue emphasis on “dispositional factors” to explain someone else’s negative behavior in a given situation rather than external “situational factors”
Why Did I Pass the Test?
I studied really hard
I’m smart
I earned the A myself
Why Did My Classmate Fail the Test?
He’s just not very intelligent
He doesn’t work hard at anything
His reading and writing skills are too low to succeed
Why Did I Fail the Test?
The teacher was bad
Test was too hard
It wasn’t my fault

6. Attribution Theory Chart
What would this look like in chart form?
Attribution Theory Chart
Self-Serving Bias
Fundamental Attribution Error

7. Fundamental Attribution Error
10 Group Sample Problems
In each case, determine whether
* the situation or the person’s disposition is likely to be attributed as the cause of the event
* self-serving bias or fundamental attribution error explains the attribution.
Situation
-or-
Disposition
Self-Serving Bias
-or-
Fundamental Attribution Error
You lose the burlap sack race to your father.

8. Fundamental Attribution Error
10 Group Sample Problems
In each case, determine whether
* the situation or the person’s disposition is likely to be attributed as the cause of the event
* self-serving bias or fundamental attribution error explains the attribution.
Situation
-or-
Disposition
Self-Serving Bias
-or-
Fundamental Attribution Error
You win the boxing match against your opponent.

9. Fundamental Attribution Error
10 Group Sample Problems
In each case, determine whether
* the situation or the person’s disposition is likely to be attributed as the cause of the event
* self-serving bias or fundamental attribution error explains the attribution.
Situation
-or-
Disposition
Self-Serving Bias
-or-
Fundamental Attribution Error
The coach is ejected from the football game by the referee.

10. Fundamental Attribution Error
10 Group Sample Problems
In each case, determine whether
* the situation or the person’s disposition is likely to be attributed as the cause of the event
* self-serving bias or fundamental attribution error explains the attribution.
Situation
-or-
Disposition
Self-Serving Bias
-or-
Fundamental Attribution Error
Uncle Buck loses over $100 playing poker with his friends.

11. Fundamental Attribution Error
10 Group Sample Problems
In each case, determine whether
* the situation or the person’s disposition is likely to be attributed as the cause of the event
* self-serving bias or fundamental attribution error explains the attribution.
Situation
-or-
Disposition
Self-Serving Bias
-or-
Fundamental Attribution Error
You give up and concede during your MMA fight.

12. Fundamental Attribution Error
10 Group Sample Problems
In each case, determine whether
* the situation or the person’s disposition is likely to be attributed as the cause of the event
* self-serving bias or fundamental attribution error explains the attribution.
Situation
-or-
Disposition
Self-Serving Bias
-or-
Fundamental Attribution Error
You win a prize for growing the largest carrot in the competition.

13. Fundamental Attribution Error
10 Group Sample Problems
In each case, determine whether
* the situation or the person’s disposition is likely to be attributed as the cause of the event
* self-serving bias or fundamental attribution error explains the attribution.
Situation
-or-
Disposition
Self-Serving Bias
-or-
Fundamental Attribution Error
You get fired by your boss from your job.

14. Fundamental Attribution Error
10 Group Sample Problems
In each case, determine whether
* the situation or the person’s disposition is likely to be attributed as the cause of the event
* self-serving bias or fundamental attribution error explains the attribution.
Situation
-or-
Disposition
Self-Serving Bias
-or-
Fundamental Attribution Error
Mr. Fiora falls into huge credit card debt and declares bankruptcy.

15. Fundamental Attribution Error
10 Group Sample Problems
In each case, determine whether
* the situation or the person’s disposition is likely to be attributed as the cause of the event
* self-serving bias or fundamental attribution error explains the attribution.
Situation
-or-
Disposition
Self-Serving Bias
-or-
Fundamental Attribution Error
Nicole is unable to block the goals from entering the net.

16. Fundamental Attribution Error
10 Group Sample Problems
In each case, determine whether
* the situation or the person’s disposition is likely to be attributed as the cause of the event
* self-serving bias or fundamental attribution error explains the attribution.
Situation
-or-
Disposition
Self-Serving Bias
-or-
Fundamental Attribution Error
You slay the dragon and save the kingdom from destruction.