Attribution Process

Definition

The attribution process refers to how individuals explain the causes of behavior, both their own and others'. It involves making inferences about why a person acted in a particular way, whether attributing it to internal factors (such as personality traits) or external factors (such as situational influences).

Related terms

Fundamental Attribution Error: This error occurs when we overestimate the influence of internal factors and underestimate the impact of external factors when explaining other people's behavior.

Self-Serving Bias: This bias refers to our tendency to attribute our successes to internal factors but blame failures on external factors.

Actor-Observer Bias: This bias explains the difference in attributions made for one's own behavior versus the behavior of others. People tend to attribute their own behaviors more to situational influences while attributing others' behaviors more to internal characteristics.