Attributions are inferences that people make about the causes of
events and behavior. People make attributions in order to understand their
experiences. Attributions strongly influence the way people interact with others.
Types of Attributions
Researchers classify attributions along two dimensions: internal vs.
external and stable vs. unstable. By combining these two dimensions of
attributes, researchers can classify a particular attribution as being
internal-stable, internal-unstable, external-stable, or external-unstable.
Internal vs. External
Attribution theory proposes that the attributions people make about
events and behavior can be classed as either internal or external. In an
internal, or dispositional, attribution,
people infer that an event or a person’s behavior is due to personal factors
such as traits, abilities, or feelings. In an external, or
situational, attribution, people infer that a person’s behavior
is due to situational factors.
Example: Maria’s car breaks down on the freeway. If she
believes the breakdown happened because of her ignorance
about cars, she is making an internal attribution. If she
believes that the breakdown happened because her car is old,
she is making an external attribution.
Stable vs. Unstable
Researchers also distinguish between stable and unstable attributions.
When people make a stable attribution, they infer that an event
or behavior is due to stable, unchanging factors. When making an
unstable attribution, they infer that an event or behavior
is due to unstable, temporary factors.
Example: Lee gets a D on his sociology term paper. If he
attributes the grade to the fact that he always has bad
luck, he is making a stable attribution. If he attributes
the grade to the fact that he didn’t have much time to study
that week, he is making an unstable
attribution.
