Attribution Theory

Question 1

What is an attribute?

Answer 1

An assumed characteristic of someone, seen from another persons point of view

Question 2

What is the attribution theory?

Answer 2

People tend to see the cause of a behaviour or action as being internal rather than external looks into how we interpret the reasoning behind the behaviour of others.
Formed from the idea that people have an innate need to try and understand why people act/ things happen the way they do.

eg. friend shouting at you one day may not be because they’re a horrible person, but because they’re under loads of stress at home.

Question 3

What are the 2 types of attribution?

Answer 3

• Internal attribution
• External attribution

Question 4

What is internal attribution?

Answer 4

When we infer someone’s behaviour is due to their internal factors (personality, attitude, motives etc.)

Question 5

What is external attribution?

Answer 5

When we infer that someone’s behaviour is due to an external cause/ factor (peer pressure, family problems etc.)

Question 6

Explain the fundimental attribution error

Answer 6

Assuming internal factors of their personality and don’t sufficiently take our time to consider the surrounding factors.

Question 7

What is self serving bias?

Answer 7

When we think about our own behaviour we tend to consider the environment and external factors – we distort facts and make situational excuses to maintain self-esteem.

Question 8

What are limitations of the attribution theory?

Answer 8

• An individuals beliefs can impact attributions made.
  Eg. If someone has a stereotype, trying to understand the causes for another persons actions, this will effect their conclusion
• Attribution theory does not explain why people prefer simple explanations over more complex explanations that take things such as the person, time, and situation into account