Lecture 2- Attribution Flashcards
What is social Psychology?
How people view, react and influence other individuals
What is social thinking?
How we think about our social world
What is social influence?
How other people influence our behaviour and visa versa.
What is causal attribution?
The process of assigning a cause to an event or behaviour.
How did Heider define attribution?
Individuals have a basic need to attribute causality.
What was Heider’s experiment called?
Geometrical shape experiment.
What is attribution?
Judgements about the causes of our own and other people’s behaviour and outcomes.
What are the 2 types of attribution called?
Personal
Situational
What is personal attribution?
Behaviour is caused by individuals characteristics
What is situational attribution?
Behaviour is caused by a situation
What are the 2 ways in which we can make an attribution?
Correspondent inference model
Covariation model
What is the correspondent inference model?
An individuals behaviour is caused by/attributed to their own personal disposition.
What 3 conditions make the correspondent inference model most likely?
The behaviour is freely chosen
When it is socially deviant
When it serves the interest of the person
What 3 things does the covariation model consist of?
Consistency-does the individual always behave the same?
Distinctiveness-Is this just a one off? Does the individual behave differently in this event than others.
Consensus- Do all people behave the same?
If someone experiences a personal attribution, what are the 3 ratios in the covariation model they have?
High consistency
Low distinctiveness
Low consensus
If someone experiences a situational attribution, what are the 3 ratios in the covariation model they have?
High consistency
High distinctiveness
High consensus
What are the 3 biases that can get in the way when individuals make attributions?
Fundamental attribution error
Actor/observer difference
Self-serving bias
What is fundamental attribution error?
We underestimate the impact of the situation and overestimate the tole of personal factors when explaining other’s behaviour.
What is the study supporting the fundamental attribution error?
Jones and Harris- Writing an essay either supporting or arguing against Castro. Beforehand judging students were told if thee opinions stressed were free or primed too. Those that were told the students had written freely were believed to be more pro-Castro. Even when told students were primed to write positive or negative accounts, they still attributed positive or negative beliefs.
What is actor/observer difference?
We are more likely to make a situational attribution about our own behaviour and a personal attribution about another person’s behaviour.
What is self-serving bias?
Attributes causes to behaviour in a way that protects and enhances our self-esteem.
Fundamental attribution error cultural differences- where does this mainly apply?
Individualistic cultures. Here people are more likely to make personal attributions whereas in collectivist cultures, dependency is high and so conformity is high and so attributions are more likely to be made to situations rather than personal.
Self serving bias cultural differences- who are more likely to show self serving bias?
Individualistic cultures. Collectivist take more responsibility and so are less likely to show self serving bias.
Why do we make the fundamental attribution error?
when explaining other peoples behaviour we ignore situational determinants and focus on personal attributions.
Why do we make the actor-observer difference?
When we act, the environment demands our attention whereas when we watch another person, the person occupies our attention.
Why do we use self serving bias?
To make attributions to enhance our own image in light of themselves and others.
