Attribution

 

Fritz Heider: Naïve Psychology

“We act much like naïve scientists, rationally and logically testing our hypothesis about behavior of others” (Franzoi 2006, 115)

 

 

 

Correspondent Inferences Theory

(Jones and Davis)

“An inference that the action of an actor corresponds to, or is an indicative of, a stable personal characteristic. (Franzoi 2006, 117)

 

Seeking this stable internal attribution, people use three rules of thumb:

 

1. social desirability

 

2. degree of choice

 

3. noncommon effects

 

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Fundamental Attribution Error

(Lee Ross)

 

Generally

Internal factors are attributed as underling other's behaviors.

 

External factors are seen as responsible for guiding our own behavior.

 

 

Specifically in case of 

Successes and Failures

Us:       We credit our own success to internal causes and blame  our failures to the environment.

Them:   We attribute their success to the environment and their   failures to themselves.

 

 

Covariation Model

(Kelley)

 

Kelley's Attribution rules

Consistency:        past behavior

Distinctiveness:   behavior in similar situations

Consensus:           behavior of other people

 

Example: Tom fails the statistics course

What would be an internal attribution?

__________________

 

When would we make an internal attribution?

High Consistency:        he messes up statistics every time

Low Distinctiveness:   he messes up other courses as well

Low Consensus:           other students do not mess up the statistics course

 

 

Example: Tom fails the statistics course  

1. Change Tom's example so consistency is low

_________________

What would we attribute in this case?

 __________

 

2. Change Tom's example so distinctiveness is high

_____________

What would we attribute in this case?

 __________

  

3. Change Tom's example so consensus is high

____________

What would we attribute in this case?

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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FIRST EXPERIMENT

How does the introduction of a more general trait influence the attribution of other existing traits?

Existing traits: someone is described as intelligent, skillful, industrious, determined, practical, or cautious.

Independent Variable 1:

Additional trait WARM is introduced

Independent Variable 2:

Alternative additional trait: COLD is introduced

Dependent variable:

% of subjects using the 6 measurement traits

generous, wise, happy, good-natured, reliable, important

 

 

 

Results: People to whom the description WARM was added to their original description were seen as more generous wise, and happy.

 

 

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SECOND EXPERIMENT

How does the introduction of a less general trait influence the attribution of other existing traits?

Same existing traits: someone is described as intelligent, skillful, industrious, determined, practical, or cautious.

Different Independent Variable 1:

Additional trait POLITE is introduced

Different Independent Variable 2:

Alternative additional trait: BLUNT is introduced

Same dependent variable:

% of subjects using the 6 measurement traits

generous, wise, happy, good-natured, reliable, important

 

Result: Using POLITE and BLUNT as additional traits does not cause difference in ratings of the six measurement traits. 

 

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Causal Attributions Regarding Crime

 

 

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