chapter 5 attribution
Attribution theory
How we explain other's behavior
Several kinds of causes we can attribute
Internal attributions: something about the person
Personality traits
Effort
Ability
Motives
Attitudes
External attributions : aspects of a person's situation
Ex: task difficulty or luck
Kelley's attribution theory
Says we're logical ( capable of being logical )
Looks at 3 things about the behavior
Consensus : do other people respond to the stimulus in the same way as this person does?
If answer is yes -> high consensus
If no -> low consensus
2. Consistency : does this person usually respond to the stimulus in the same way?
* if yes -> high consistency
* if no -> low consistency
3. Distinctiveness : does this person usually respond to other, similar stimuli in the same way
* if yes -> low distinctiveness
* if no -> high distinctiveness
If we observe that a person's behavior is :
Low consensus
High consistency
Low distinctiveness
Conclude internal cause
If we observe that a person's behavior is :
High consensus
High consistency
High distinctiveness
Conclude external cause
Attribution errors
In real life, not that logical
Make errors
Fundamental attribution error (FAE)
To others -> give internal cause to their behavior rather than external
Observe the person and not their situation, why do we do this ?
How can we self-correct FAE?
Awareness
Consider situational info: three-step attribution model
Behavior -> personal (int) attribution -> automatic -> situational (ext) attribution -> effortful -> new attribution
Actor observer effect
To others-> give internal cause to their behavior
usually dispositional ( personality )
To self -> give situational cause
Use AOE when we don't succeed at something
Aware of our own situation but often not aware of other's circumstances
Self-serving bias
A form of ego boosting
Give situational cause to our behavior when we fail
Give dispositional cause when we succeed
Culture and the FAE
Who is more likely to make FAE?
Individualists or collectivists? individualists