Glossary / Lexicon

Attributions refer to explanations or reasons that people make of the things that happen to them.

These are inferences generated by people when they try to explain reasons for events, the behavior of others, and their own behavior. Attributions may be internal (dispositional), based on something within a person, or external (situational), based on something outside a person.

Description

Attributions in psychology refer to the explanations that individuals give for the causes of events or behaviors. These attributions can be internal, attributing events to personal characteristics, or external, attributing events to situational factors. The way individuals make attributions can influence their emotions, behaviors, and relationships. Attribution theory, developed by Fritz Heider and others, explores how people make sense of the world around them by attributing causes to events. Understanding attributions can provide insight into cognitive processes and social interactions.

Application Areas

• Clinical psychology
• Social psychology
• Educational psychology
• Organizational psychology

Treatment and Risks

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help individuals change maladaptive attributions
• Risks include reinforcing negative attributions through rumination and self-blame

Examples

• An individual attributing their failure on a test to lack of effort (internal attribution)
• An individual attributing the success of a colleague to luck (external attribution)

Similar Concepts and Synonyms

• Explanatory style
• Interpretations
• Causal attributions

Articles with 'Attributions' in the title

• Causal attributions: Causal attributions refer to the explanations people make for the events they observe- the explanations for why events occurred. Moreover, Causal attributions are explanations people construct to explain their behavior, which can be . . .
• Defensive attributions: Defensive attributions: Defensive attributions refer to explanations for behavior that avoid feelings of vulnerability and mortality
• Taxonomy of success and failure attributions: Taxonomy of success and failure attributions refers to the types of internal and external attributions we can make about a person's performance—for example, success or failure
• Dispositional attributions: Dispositional attributions: Dispositional Attributions is deciding that someone's Behavior is caused by their internal characteristics or dispositions
• Achievement attributions: Achievement attributions refers to the causal explanations that a person provides for his or her successes and failures.

Summary

Attributions in psychology refer to the explanations individuals give for the causes of events. Understanding how attributions are made can provide insight into cognitive processes and social interactions. The way attributions are made can impact emotions, behaviors, and relationships. Attribution theory explores how individuals make sense of the world by attributing causes to events.

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