Attribution

Question 1

Abnormal conditions focus model (ACF)

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Actor-observer differences

Answer 2

People assume own behaviour is caused by situational factors and other people‘a identical behaviour is determined by dispositional factors

Question 3

ANOVA approach

Answer 3

Analysis of variance approach

Statistical test that looks for changes in a dependent variable (effect) by varying independent variables (factors)

Question 4

Attribution

Answer 4

The process of assigning a cause to ones own or another’s behaviour

Question 5

Attribution theory

Answer 5

How we explain our own and other people’s behaviour

Focuses specifically on perceived causes, not actual causes

Question 6

Augmentation principle

Answer 6

Suggests the role of a cause is augmented or increased if the effect occurs at the same time as an inhibitory cause

Question 7

Causal attribution

Answer 7

How individuals perceive the causes of everyday experience, as being internal or external

Question 8

Causal schemata

Answer 8

Beliefs and preconceptions about how causes interact to produce particular effects, and are derived through experience

Question 9

Configuration approach

Answer 9

Instances where we can only base our attributions on a single observation

Question 10

Covariation model

Answer 10

Instances where we base our attributions on multiple observations, made at different times and in different settings

Question 11

Consensus

Answer 11

The extent to which other people behave in the same way in a similar situation

Question 12

Consistency

Answer 12

Tendency to behave in a manner that matches their past decisions or behaviours

Question 13

Distinctiveness

Answer 13

The extend to which a specific action engaged in by an individual is unusual or uncommon for that particular individual

Question 14

Correspondence bias

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Correspondence inference theory

Answer 15

A judgement that a person’s personality matches or corresponds to his or her behaviour

Question 16

Covariation principle

Answer 16

Given time and motivation, a person can make attributions on the basis of perceiving the covariation of an effect and it’s hypothetical causes

Question 17

Discounting principle

Answer 17

Because distinct causes can create the same effect, the role of one of the causes is discounted if possible alternative causes are present

Question 18

Dispositional cause

Answer 18

Internal cause

Attribution assigns the cause of behaviour to some internal characteristic of a person

Question 19

Situational causes

Answer 19

External causes

Attribution occurs when we infer that a behaviour or event is caused by some factor relative to the situation

Question 20

False consensus effect

Answer 20

People tend to overestimate how many of their own behaviour, attitudes and beliefs are shared by other people

Question 21

Fundamental attribution error FAE

Answer 21

People tend to underestimate the role of situational factors and overestimate the role of dispositional factors in causing behaviour

Question 22

Multiple necessary cause schemata

Answer 22

Proposes that causes operate together to produce the effect, and is especially important when events are unusual or extreme

Question 23

Multiple sufficient causal schema MSCS

Answer 23

Suggests that any of a number of potential causes acting by themselves can produce the same effect

Moving job- better money, location, people etc

Question 24

Non-common effects

Answer 24

The consequences of a chosen action must be compared with the consequences of possible alternative actions

Question 25

Self-enhancing bias

Answer 25

Taking credit for success

The need to maintain self esteem and protect one’s ego

Question 26

Self- protective bias

Answer 26

Denying responsibility for failure

The need to maintain self esteem and protect one’s ego

Question 27

Self-serving biases

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Ethnocentric bias

Answer 28

Group-serving attributions bias

In-groups favour dispositional attributions for success, whereas out-groups tend to have situational causes attracted to their behaviour

Question 29

Self-handicapping

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Defensive attributional bias

Answer 30

Responsibility attributions decrease if you believe yourself to be similar to that person

E.G. drink driver offences

Question 31

Just world hypothesis

Answer 31

To protect self-esteem, people attribute negative outcomes to the victims themselves