4.1 - Attribution Theory

Attribution Theory

Fritz Heider - people measure other's’ behavior by either their internal disposition or external situation

Locus of Control

the extent to which you feel you control the events of your life

Internal vs External

external: blame outside forces and give credit to luck

internal: give yourself credit to make a change

Fundamental Attribution Error

judging others: over-estimating someone’s disposition and underestimating their situation

Actor/Observer Bias

comparing others: attribute disposition to others, but situation to yourself

Self-Serving Bias

evaluating ourselves: automatically give yourself the benefit of the doubt

Mere Exposure Effect

as we get used to something, we like it more

Upward Social Comparisons

comparing yourself to people you thing are better than you; use for motivation

Downward Social Comparisons

comparing yourself to people that are worse-off than you; you thing you are better than them

Relative Deprivation

comparing yourself to people in your social/economic group

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

the idea that if you think you can or can’t, you will or won’t