Attribution Theory to Explain Behaviour

What is Attribution?

The process we go through to explain the causes of behaviour (including our own)

Attribution Theory

People tend to attribute behaviour in a particular situation to either internal causes (characteristics of the person) or external causes (characteristics of the situation)

• Situational = external

(social situational / social pressure)

• Dispositional = Internal

(Personality / ability / motivation)

Fundamental Attribution Error

Refers to the inclination for individuals to over emphasise dispositional characteristics and underestimate situational factors when explaining other’s behaviour

e.g assuming a colleague is short-tempered because of their personality rather than external stressors at the workplace

What are the Attribution Biases?

• Self-Serving Bias

• Group-Serving Bias

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency for individuals to attribute their personal success to internal factors, like intelligence or effort, while attributing personal failures to external factors, such as unfair conditions

e.g. a student may tell their parent that they received a high score on their test because they studied hard for it, but that they did not pass their math test because their teacher did not cover all of the content in class

Group-Serving Bias

Involves attributing a group’s success to the internal characteristics of its members, while attributing external factors for its failures.

e.g. If your favorite team wins a game, fans say it is because the players are brilliant and disciplined. If they lose, fans blame the referees, bad weather, or cheating by the other team