What vs. WhyThe Attribution Process

On the importance of attributions

OutlineBasic distinction: internal vs.

external attributionsKelley’s covariation model*Discounting vs. augmentationThe Self

– Personal attributional style (pessimistic vs. optimistic)

– Ability vs. effort on task performance/ intelligence

Biases in attributions

Internal vs. external attributions

Discounting vs. augmentation

pessimistic vs. optimistic attributional styles

Pessimists explain/see negative events as– Global

Nothing goes right in my life I’m a loser I can’t do anything right

– Internal it’s always my fault…

– Stable it’ll always be that way…

Some amazing data: Peterson, Seligman, &

Valliant (1988)How explanatory styles can predict

health decades later…

Attributions about performance and general intelligence:

Ability vs. effort

Carol Dweck’s work on male vs. female styles

– Dweck, Davidson, Nelson, & Enna (1978)

Biases in attributionsSelf-serving bias

–Ubiquitous (e.g. athletics)