Attribution Flashcards
Abnormal conditions focus model (ACF)
People make causal attributions by selecting a cause that is abnormal when compared to the background of the behaviour
High distinctiveness info - target does not act in this way to other similar entities
Low consensus info - not many other people do it
Low consistency info - event hardly ever happened in the past
= abnormal
Actor-observer differences
People assume own behaviour is caused by situational factors and other people‘a identical behaviour is determined by dispositional factors
ANOVA approach
Analysis of variance approach
Statistical test that looks for changes in a dependent variable (effect) by varying independent variables (factors)
Attribution
The process of assigning a cause to ones own or another’s behaviour
Attribution theory
How we explain our own and other people’s behaviour
Focuses specifically on perceived causes, not actual causes
Augmentation principle
Suggests the role of a cause is augmented or increased if the effect occurs at the same time as an inhibitory cause
Causal attribution
How individuals perceive the causes of everyday experience, as being internal or external
Causal schemata
Beliefs and preconceptions about how causes interact to produce particular effects, and are derived through experience
Configuration approach
Instances where we can only base our attributions on a single observation
Covariation model
Instances where we base our attributions on multiple observations, made at different times and in different settings
Consensus
The extent to which other people behave in the same way in a similar situation
Consistency
Tendency to behave in a manner that matches their past decisions or behaviours
Distinctiveness
The extend to which a specific action engaged in by an individual is unusual or uncommon for that particular individual
Correspondence bias
The tendency for people to explain others’ behaviour as the result of dispositions even when info about possible situational causes is apparent or ever more likely
Correspondence inference theory
A judgement that a person’s personality matches or corresponds to his or her behaviour
Covariation principle
Given time and motivation, a person can make attributions on the basis of perceiving the covariation of an effect and it’s hypothetical causes
Discounting principle
Because distinct causes can create the same effect, the role of one of the causes is discounted if possible alternative causes are present
Dispositional cause
Internal cause
Attribution assigns the cause of behaviour to some internal characteristic of a person
Situational causes
External causes
Attribution occurs when we infer that a behaviour or event is caused by some factor relative to the situation
False consensus effect
People tend to overestimate how many of their own behaviour, attitudes and beliefs are shared by other people
Fundamental attribution error FAE
People tend to underestimate the role of situational factors and overestimate the role of dispositional factors in causing behaviour
Multiple necessary cause schemata
Proposes that causes operate together to produce the effect, and is especially important when events are unusual or extreme
Multiple sufficient causal schema MSCS
Suggests that any of a number of potential causes acting by themselves can produce the same effect
Moving job- better money, location, people etc
Non-common effects
The consequences of a chosen action must be compared with the consequences of possible alternative actions
Self-enhancing bias
Taking credit for success
The need to maintain self esteem and protect one’s ego
Self- protective bias
Denying responsibility for failure
The need to maintain self esteem and protect one’s ego
Self-serving biases
The tendency for people to take credit for any successes they have by making a dispositional attribution
E.G. ability
and in the cause of failure deny any responsibility and make a situational attribution
Ethnocentric bias
Group-serving attributions bias
In-groups favour dispositional attributions for success, whereas out-groups tend to have situational causes attracted to their behaviour
Self-handicapping
People will often manipulate the causes of an event before it has occurred to make the link between their performance and evaluation more unambiguous
E.G expect to fail an essay
Defensive attributional bias
Responsibility attributions decrease if you believe yourself to be similar to that person
E.G. drink driver offences
Just world hypothesis
To protect self-esteem, people attribute negative outcomes to the victims themselves
