Attribution

Question 1

Attribution

Answer 1

An observer makes a judgement about an actor

• observer attribute behaviors of actors to different causes and draw conclusions about actors attributes(personal characteristics)
• focuses on observers judgement about cause of actors behavior rather than the behavior itself

Question 2

Covariation Theory

Answer 2

“The effect is attributed to that condition which is present when the effect is present and which is absent when the effect is absent” (Kelley, 1967:194).

-a certain behavior is attributed to potential causes that appear at the same time.

Question 3

Low/High Consensus

Answer 3

Low Consensus - effect only associated with observed person

High Consensus - effect associated with many different people

Question 4

Low/High Distinctiveness

Answer 4

Low distinctiveness - effect associated with many different entities
High Distinctiveness - effect associated only with observed entity

Question 5

Low/High Consistency

Answer 5

Low consistency - effect only associated with situation/time

High consistency - effect associated with many different situations/times

Question 6

Limitations of Covariation Theory

Answer 6

• observers usually don’t ask for covariation info when trying to answer questions about the causes of behavior (Laljee et al 1984)
• Covariation information does not fully answer causal questions (Lalljee & Abelson, 1983)
• People don’t “start from scratch” for every new causal question (Read, 1987), but draw on prior knowledge by using expectations (Hilton & Slugoski, 1986) or causal schemas (Kelley, 1972)
• not efficient, sometimes shortcuts needed

Question 7

Attributional Bias

Answer 7

• Attribution is biased when people show a systematic tendency to favor certain explanations over others
• shortcuts may lead to error
• Research attention shifted to the fallibility of attributions in less idealized contexts (drawing on the cognitive miser model)

Question 8

What kind of model is covariation theory?

Answer 8

-normative model (describes how individuals ought to act if they followed scientific principles )

Question 9

Correspondence Bias (Attributional Error)

Answer 9

“The correspondence bias ... is 
the tendency to conclude that a 
person has a disposition that 
corresponds to his or her 
behavior even when that 
behavior is attributable to the 
situation.” 
(Gilbert & Malone, 1995, p. 105)

Question 10

Actor-Observer Bias

Answer 10

the tendency to attribute one’s own behavior to external causes while attributing other peoples behavior to internal causes

Question 11

Learned Helplessness Theory

Answer 11

• Seilgman 1975
• animals exposed to non-contingent punishment are worse at avoidance learning when control is later introduced
• motivational deficits and emotional responses associated with learned helplessness

Question 12

Issues for learned helplessness account of depression

Answer 12

Self Blame > why do people blame themselves when things go wrong if depression is due to uncontrollability
Insufficiency of uncontrollability> many outcomes in life are uncontrollable but do not sadden us
Individual differences > why are some people chronic whilst others temporarily depressed

Question 13

Objective non-contingency

Answer 13

• nothing you do makes a difference to what happens

Question 14

perceived non contingency

Answer 14

you realize nothing you do makes a difference to what happens

Question 15

attribution for non-contingency

Answer 15

you attribute non-contingency fatcors that are unchanging

Question 16

what are the five steps to depression?

Answer 16

1) objective non-contingency
2) perceived non-contingency
3) attribution for non-contingency
4) expectations of non-contingency
5) symptoms of helplessness

Question 17

expectations of non-contingency

Answer 17

you conclude that future actions will not make a difference either

Question 18

symptoms of helplessness

Answer 18

you feel depressed and suffer motivational deificits

Question 19

Causal Attribution

Answer 19

Process by which social perceivers draw conclusions about the causes of another persons behaviour

Question 20

Most at risk of chronic depression when you attribute uncontrollable events to…

Answer 20

Internal , stable , global factors

Question 21

Actor-Observer Difference

Answer 21

People have a wider range of information on which to base explanations of their own behaviour

Question 22

Seligman’s (1975) learned helplessness theory

Answer 22

Animals exposed to non contingent punishment are worse at avoidance learning when control is later introduced
Motivational deficits and emotional responses associated with learned helplessness parallel aspects of human depression

Question 23

Objective non-contingency (depression)

Answer 23

Nothing you do makes a difference to what happen

Question 24

Perceived non contingency (depression)

Answer 24

You realise that nothing you do makes a difference to what happens

Question 25

Attribution for non contingency (depression)

Answer 25

You attribute non contingency to factors that are unchanging

Question 26

Expectations of non-contingency(depression)

Answer 26

You conclude that future actions will not make a difference either

Question 27

Symptoms of helplessness (depression)

Answer 27

You feel depressed and suffer motivational deficits

Question 28

What is cannons theory on emotional distinction

Answer 28

Contrasting emotions involve similar patterns of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity
Undifferentiated arousal