4.1 Attribution Theory and Person Perception - AP Psych

dispositional attribution

Explaining behavior based on internal characteristics. “He failed the test because he was lazy".”

situational attribution

Explaining behavior based on external factors. “He failed the test because the questions were difficult.”

permanence: pessimistic

Tend to view negative events as permanent and lasting, believing that things will not improve.

permanence: optimistic

Tend to view negative events as temporary and unstable, expecting things to get better.

pervasiveness: pessimistic

Tend to see negative events as affecting many aspects of life, making them feel as if everything is going wrong.

pervasiveness: optimistic

Tend to view negative events as specific and isolated, not affecting other areas of their lives.

personalization: pessimistic

Tend to attribute negative events to personal flaws or shortcomings, blaming themselves.

personalization: optimistic

Tend to attribute negative events to external factors or circumstances, avoiding self-blame.

Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)

Overemphasizing dispositional factors and underemphasizing situational factors when explaining others' behavior.

Actor-Observer Bias

Tendency to attribute our own behavior to situational factors and others' behavior to dispositional factors.

Self-serving Bias

Taking credit for successes (dispositional attribution) and blaming failures on external factors (situational attribution). “I aced the test because I’m smart; I failed the test because the teacher is unfair.”

Locus of control

the extent to which individuals believe they can control events affecting them.

internal locus of control

Belief that one's actions and decisions directly impact outcomes. "I make things happen."

external locus of control

Belief that outcomes are determined by external forces (fate, luck, powerful others). "Things happen to me."

Mere exposure effect:

The more we are exposed to something (a person, a song, an object), the more we tend to like it.

self-fulfilling prophecy

A belief or expectation that, consciously or unconsciously, leads to its own fulfillment.

social comparison theory

We evaluate our own abilities, opinions, and beliefs by comparing ourselves to others.

upward social comparison

Comparing ourselves to people who are better than us on a particular trait.

downward social comparison

Comparing ourselves to people who are worse than us.

relative deprivation

the feeling that we're worse off compared to others, even if we're objectively doing okay.