4.1 Attribution Theory and Person Perception

Attribution Theory

A theoretical framework that explains how individuals interpret behavior and assign causes to actions.

Dispositional Attribution

The inference that a person's behavior is due to internal characteristics or personality traits.

Situational Attribution

The inference that a person's behavior is influenced by external factors or the context of the situation.

Explanatory Style

A psychological concept that refers to how individuals explain the causes of events, often categorized as either optimistic or pessimistic.

Actor-Observer Bias

The tendency to attribute one's own actions to situational factors while attributing others' actions to their personality.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasize dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors when explaining others' behavior.

Self-Serving Bias

The habit of attributing positive events to one’s own character but attributing negative events to external factors.

Person Perception

The process through which individuals form judgments and impressions about others, influenced by various factors such as social context, stereotypes, and personal experiences.