Attributions

Attributions

A evaluation made about the causes of behaviour and the processes of making this evaluation

Cognitive process

1. Observe the behaviour

2. Acknowledge the behaviour

3. Attribute cause for the behaviour

Internal attribution (personal)

Occurs when we judge behaviour as being caused by something personal with a individual

Example of a internal attribution

Believing you have done badly on a test because you are stupid, rather than because you did not have enough time to learn the material

External attribution (situational)

Occurs when we determine the cause of a behaviour as resulting from a situational factor occurring outside the individual

Example of a external attribution

Blaming the train running behind schedule for being late to work

Fundamental attribution error

Refers to our tendency to explain other peoples behaviours in terms of internal factors, while ignoring possible external factors

Example of a fundamental attribution error

A man was late to work because he is lazy (internal). Rather than knowing he is caring for a loved one at home (situational)

Effects of attribution on future actions

The type of attributions we make can have a significant impact on our future behaviour towards ourselves and other people