Attribution Theory

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  • Created by: Yasmetron
  • Created on: 10-03-23 12:59
Define attributions
inferences about cause of behaviour or events
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What are the basic assumptions of attributions?
- predict future behaviours
- influence events
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Where is the search for cause elicited?
- unexpected events
- non-attainment rather than attainment of goals
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What is the Theory of Naive Psychology and who created it?
o Heider (1958)
o People look for what motivates behaviour.
o Construction of causal theories to predict and control world.
o Preferences for unchanging explanations.
o Distinction between personal and environmental factors
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What is the Correspondent inference theory and who created it?
o Jones and Davis (1965)
o Social perceivers infer than an individual’s behaviour is cause by a trait – stability
o Inferences particularly likely if behaviour is freely chosen/intentional, produced unusual/non-common effects, socially undesirable, has di
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What is the covariation model and who created it?
Consistency – does X always react like this to stimulus Y? (This would be high)
Distinctiveness – does X react like this to all stimuli? (This is low distinctiveness if they do react like this to all stimuli)
Consensus – do other people react to stimulus
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give an example of the covariation model
McArthur (1972) – Laura laughs at comedian Charlie. Almost everyone who hears Charlie laughs at him. Laura does not generally laugh at comedians. In the past, Laura has almost always laughed at Charlie.
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What are the negatives of the covariation model?
o This model fails when insufficient information is given and there are false perceptions – often information is incomplete, distinctiveness is only accessible if you know the individual, false consensus effect.
o What about systematic errors, biases, mot
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What is the Attribution Model of Achievement and who created it?
o Weiner (1985)
o Locus – actor (internal) vs situation (external)
o Stability – stable vs unstable
o Controllability – controllable vs uncontrollable
o This can lead to eight different types of attributions which all lead to different emotions towards
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How do observers estimate situational and dispositional factors?
• Observers underestimate influence of situational factors.
• Observers overestimate influence of dispositional factors.
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What are the four factors of correspondence bias?
o Lack of awareness (situational invisibility)
o Unrealistic expectation
o Inflated categorisations
o Incomplete corrections
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What is the actor-observer effect?
• When individual is the actor, fundamental attribution error reverses.
• People attribute others’ actions to disposition (internal).
• They attribute own actions to situational factors (external).
o Perceptual focus (can’t see yourself behaving, so
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what is self handicapping?
o If you think you’ll fail the exam, you tell everyone you’re not prepared.
o Attributions are motivated, not objective.
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What are self-serving biases?
o Attribute own positive behaviour to dispositional factors (internal)
o Attribute own negative behaviour to situational factors (external)
o To enhance or protect self-esteem.
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What is group-serving biases?
o Ultimate attribution error
 Negative outgroup behaviour attributed internally.
 Positive outgroup behaviour attributed externally.
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What is ingroup-serving bias?
 Negative ingroup behaviour attributed externally.
 Positive ingroup behaviour attributed internally.
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What happens when someone has a different opinion to us?
Negative ingroup behaviour attributed externally.
Positive ingroup behaviour attributed internally.
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How do conspiracy theories affect us?
o Reduced uncertainty.
o Simplistic and overgeneralised causal explanations
o Events attributed to intentional behaviour of certain groups.
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What are some individual differences?
• Locus of control – internal vs external, - this is who you believe is responsible for consequences and results.
• Attribution style questionnaire: attributions for aversive events, looks at internal vs external, stable vs unstable, global, vs specific.
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How does depression impact attribution?
- internal attribution of negative events
- external attribution of positive events
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What are the consequences of attribution?
• Successful romantic relationships: partners attribute negative behaviour – external, unstable, uncontrollable, specific.
• If the opposite is the case, lower relationship satisfaction.
• Attributions can have causal impacts on subsequent relationship sa
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Card 2

Front

What are the basic assumptions of attributions?

Back

- predict future behaviours
- influence events

Card 3

Front

Where is the search for cause elicited?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is the Theory of Naive Psychology and who created it?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the Correspondent inference theory and who created it?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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