ATTRIBUTION THEORY

-the theory of how people explain behavior,

both their own, and others.

Types of Attributions

1. Internal vs. External

2. Stable vs. Unstable

3. Global vs. Specific

Theory of Correspondent Inferences

Normal/Socially desirable behavior­>external

Unexpected/undesirable behavior­> internal

Kelley's (1967; 1971) Attribution Theory

Factors: consistency

distinctiveness

consensus

Testing Jones & Davis' theory:

How?

Manipulate 1 or more of the causes of correspondent inferences; Measure whether correspondent inferences are made.

Design?

Results:

How do we use these attributions?

1. Fundamental Attribution Error

Original Study: Ross, Amabile, Steinmetz, 1977

Design: Subjects told they

are participating in game show as Questionnner/Contestant

-

-in reality, all are contestants

IV:

DV:

Is FAE perceptual?

Is FAE learned?

Time

Culture

Self-awareness

2. Actor-Observer Bias

3. Self-serving bias

4. Depressive Attributional style

How fundamental are these attribution errors?

1. FAE/Actor-Observer may result in

a. prejudice/"ultimate attribution error"

b. Blaming the victim

2. Self-serving bias/Optimism may result in

a. Unrealistic optimism

b.Illusions of invulnerability

c. Self-Handicapping

• Procedure:
• Subjects told this is a study of how drugs affect intellectual performance
• Subjects completed aptitude test and told

"Your score is one of the best I've ever seen"

• Subjects then pick one of two drugs before answering more questions
• Subjects told one drug "interferes with performance", the other won't

IV:

Results:

Why?

Definition:

Attribution errors as "adaptive"?

1. Depressive attributional style may result in depressive realism

2. Denial of personal discrimination as healthy?

Denial=unstable, specific attributions

Attribution errors as "maladaptive"

1. Long term health consquences

2. False uniqueness

3. False consensus.