Attribution Theory Flashcards
What are attributions?
Asking ‘why,’ how people explain their own and others behavior
When do we make attributions?
For events that are unexpected and/or negative
Why are attributions important?
They help us predict and control the environment, influence our future expectations, and they determine our feelings, attitudes, and behaviors
What is Fritz Heider’s theory?
Behavior is attributed to the person or the situation, we want to predict and control our world
What is Hal Kelley’s theory?
Covariation model, which says that people use three sources (consensus, distinctiveness, and consistency) to make three attributions (person, stimulus, circumstances)
What is Ned Jones’ theory?
Theory of Corresponding Inferences: people seek underlying personality traits to explain others’ behaviors across situations
What are the three factors that lead to correspondent inferences in Jones’ theory?
Choices, social desirability, number of positive outcomes
Fundamental attribution error
People tend to overestimate dispositional factors and underestimate the impact of the situation
Actor-observer effect
People see others’ behavior as due to personality but their own behavior as caused by the situation
Self-serving bias
Taking credit for success but not for failure
False consensus effect
Overestimating the extent that others share your attitudes and opinions
Egocentric bias
Exaggerating contribution to shared events or our role in events
Defensive attribution
We blame people for their fate
Just world belief
Individuals get what they deserve in life, can cause people to disparage victims
