Attribution

Attribution TheoryAn important assumption of attribution theory is that people will interpret their environment in such a way as to maintain a positive self-image

Attribution TheoryAttribution theory is concerned with how individual interpret events and how this is related to their thinking and behavior. The motivation theory associated here describes how people explain, justify, and/or provide excuses about influences on their motivation - meaning, their current motivation level is due to some external reason that has nothing to do with them.

Attribution TheoryPeople are motivated to understand the causes of behavior. Attribution theory seeks to explain how and why people make these causal attributions.Attributions - are the reasons we we give for our own and others behaviors.

Why is this baby smiling?

Fritz Heider argued that there are two general types of attributions that people make:

Personal attributionsSituational attributions

Personal attributionsExplanations in terms of personal characteristics. For example:The baby must be a happy baby.Other examples:He scored well on the exam because he is smart.She tripped because she is clumsy.

Situational attributionsExplanations in terms of situational factors. For example:Someone must have just played with the baby .Other examples:He scored well because it was an easy test.She tripped because a squirrel ran in front of her.

Attribution TheorySuggests that motivation is influenced by the reasons we give ourselves (attributions) for our successes and our failuresSuggests four attributions: ability, effort, task difficulty, luck

Attribution TheoryAbility is a relatively internal and stable factor over which the learner does not exercise much direct control. Task difficulty is an external and stable factor that is largely beyond the learner's control. Effort is an internal and unstable factor over which the learner can exercise a great deal of control. Luck is an external and unstable factor over which the learner exercises very little control.

Attribution TheoryThese four attributions (ability, effort, task difficulty, luck) can be categorized along two dimensions: locus of control (internal, external) and stability (stable, unstable)

Attribution Theory

InternalExternalStableAbility (U)Task Difficulty (U)UnstableEffort (C)Luck (U)

Locus Of ControlInternal Locus of ControlIndividual believes that his/her behavior is guided by his/her personal decisions and efforts. External Locus of ControlIndividual believes that his/her behavior is guided by fate, luck, or other external circumstances

Attribution TheoryElements of Attributions cont.StabilityUnstable, changeable*Temporary stateStable, unchangeable*Enduring TraitResponsibilityControllable*Personally accountableUncontrollable*Blaming other people, things, luck, etc.

Attribution TheoryWhen one succeeds, one attributes successes internally (my own skill). When a rival succeeds, one tends to credit external (e.g. luck). When one fails or makes mistakes, we will more likely use external attribution, attributing causes to situational factors rather than blaming ourselves. When others fail or make mistakes, internal attribution is often used, saying it is due to their internal personality factors.

Attribution TheoryMotivation is high when we attribute our successes and failures to internal factors like ability and effortMotivation is low when we attribute our successes and failures to external factors like task difficulty and luck

Attribution TheorySuggests motivation will decrease when we attribute our failures to stable factors like ability and task difficultySuggests motivation may increase when we attribute our failures to unstable factors like effort

3-Stage ProcessAttributing behavior is a 3-stage process: You must observe the behavior whether it is your own behavior or the behavior of someone else. You must determine whether the behavior being observed is intentional. You attribute the observed behavior. External Cause or Internal Cause? Internal Cause. Internal causes are usually controllable. For example, a co-worker just received a promotion. You believe the reason for her promotion was her hard work, dedication, and skills. You have thus attributed internal causes to her promotion. External Cause. External causes are often not controllable, such as luck. For example, let's say your co-worker just received a promotion. You believe she received her promotion because the owner of the company is her father. You have attributed an external factor as the cause of her promotion.

The Fundamental Attributon Error is that we overestimate the power of the person and underestimate the power of the situation. The availability heuristic partly explains why this error occurs.

Why do people make the fundamental attribution error?The situation is not salient when people make attributions for the behavior of others, but the situation is salient when making attributions for ones own behavior. Thus, people are more inclined to take the situation into account when explaining their own behavior.

Self-serving biasPeople do not make objective situational / personal attributions for their own behavior, though.They tend to attribute their successes to dispositional factors, and their failures to situational factors.For example: I did well on the test because I am smart, or I did poor on the test because I didnt get enough sleep.

How do people make attributions?Kelley argued that people take three factors into account when making a personal vs. situational attribution:Consistency: Is the baby always smiling?Distinctiveness: Are there occasions on which the baby doesnt smile?Consensus: Do all babies smile?

If consistency is high, and distinctiveness / consensus are low, then a personal attribution is more likely: The baby is always smiling, never displays other emotions (like crying), and this is not typical of babies in general. Therefore, this baby must have a happy disposition.If consistency is high, and distinctiveness / consensus are also high, then a situational attribution is more likely.The baby is always smiling when tickled, but displays different emotions in other circumstances. Smiling when tickled is typical of all babies. Therefore, this baby is smiling because it was tickled

Why Is Attribution Theory Important?Attribution theory is important for organizations because it can help managers understand some of the causes of employee behavior and can assist employees in understanding their thinking about their own behaviors. If you can understand why you behave a certain way, and why others around you do so, then you have a better understanding of yourself, others, and your organization. The perception of the causes of a certain behavior may affect the judgment and actions of both managers and employees. It may also play a significant role in motivation.

If a manager attributes an employee's poor performance to a lack of effort, then the outcome is likely to be negative for that employee; he or she may receive a poor performance appraisal rating oreven be terminated from the job. Conversely, if a manager perceives that an employee'spoor performance is due to a lack of skill, the manager may assign the employee to further training or provide more instruction or coaching.

Attributions also may influence employee motivation. Employees who perceive the cause of their success to be outside of their control may be reluctant to attempt new tasks and may lose motivation to perform well in the workplace. Conversely, employees who attribute their success to themselves are more likely to have high motivation for work.Thus, understanding attributions that people make can have a strong effect on both employee performance and managerial effectiveness

Choice leads to stronger attributions of liking.

Guess?Motivation is driven by rewards and punishments or carrots and sticks.Focuses on the content of motivation, or the needs that motivate us to take action and achieve goals that satisfy these needs.The theory suggests that we perceive behaviour to be determined by either internal or external forces.