Lesson 4 Attribution Theory

Question 1

Actor/Observer bias

Answer 1

The common tendency for the actor in a particular situation to blame external factors for his or her unsuccessful behavior while, concurrently, an observer tends to blame internal factors for the same behavior

Question 2

Apology Effect

Answer 2

The leader’s tendency to be less likely to punish the follower who says he or she is sorry for his or her behavior

Question 3

Attribution

Answer 3

The process of making inferences and judgments about the causes of people’s behavior

Question 4

Consistency

Answer 4

The process of making an attribution based on how a person performed the same task on other occasions

Question 5

Distinctiveness

Answer 5

The process of making an attribution about a person based on how well (or poorly) he or she does on a variety of different tasks

Question 6

External attribution

Answer 6

The process of assigning blame or credit for a person’s behavior (including one’s own behavior) to external factors beyond the person’s control

Question 7

Fundamental attribution error

Answer 7

The tendency to overvalue internal factors in explaining someone’s behavior, while undervaluing external factors

Question 8

Internal attribution

Answer 8

The process of assigning blame or credit for a person’s behavior (including one’s own behavior) to that person’s abilities or lack of abilities

Question 9

Negative outcome bias

Answer 9

The tendency for a leader to punish a follower more severely if the follower’s behavior has negative consequences

Question 10

Self-serving bias

Answer 10

The tendency to attribute one’s own successes to one’s abilities, and to blame failures on external factors beyond one’s control

Question 11

Social psychology

Answer 11

The study of human interaction, including the study of attraction, attitude formation, influence (of which leadership is a part), and group dynamics.