Gudjohnsson and Bownes

Turning To Crime – What Are The Causes of Criminal Behaviour?

Cognition

2.3 Social Cognition

–                The attribution theory is the explanation that We all justify our behaviours using internal and external attributions.

–                This ought to be a logical process but is systematically biased.

–                Fundamental attribution error –

–                over emphasis on dispositional rather than situational factors

–                Self serving bias –

–                An internal attribution is when we accept full responsibility for our behaviour and see a cause within ourselves.

–                An external attribution is when we blame something else for our behaviour.

Gudjohnsson and Bownes (2002)…