Psychology Unit 3 - Attribution Theory Flashcards

Internal Attribution involves explaining a person's behavior based on internal factors, such as personality traits or motives.
External Attribution refers to explaining behavior based on external circumstances or situational factors.

Consensus: Refers to the level of agreement among a group regarding a person's behavior.
- Low consensus indicates that most people do not agree on the behavior, leading to internal attribution.
- High consensus signifies general agreement, leading to external attribution.
Consistency: Relates to how stable or uniform a person's behavior is over time.
- Low consistency suggests varying behavior, resulting in external attribution.
- High consistency indicates stable behavior, resulting in internal attribution.
Distinctiveness: Measures the degree to which a person's behavior changes across different situations.
- Low distinctiveness indicates consistent behavior across contexts, leading to internal attribution.
- High distinctiveness involves varying behavior in different scenarios, leading to external attribution.

Culture: Refers to the differing belief systems and values among various groups.
- Collectivist cultures typically favor external attribution, focusing on group influences and contexts.
- Individualistic cultures tend to lean toward internal attribution, emphasizing personal responsibility and traits.

Self-Serving Bias: Refers to cognitive strategies used to protect self-esteem by attributing outcomes to oneself.
- When experiencing failure, individuals often engage in external attribution to avoid self-blame.
- Success is typically attributed to internal factors, enhancing self-esteem and personal competence.