Attribution Theory

Question

For the Attribution Theory response the following questions:

Think about the theory/model/framework we will be discussing this week, in your own words tell me about this theory and what is the most important construct that you feels impacts behavior change?

The response should be no more than 150-200 words

Answer 1

Attribution Theory explains how people try to understand the causes behind their own behavior and the behavior of others. We generally make either internal attributions, where we believe behavior is caused by personal characteristics such as personality, ability, or effort, or external attributions, where we believe behavior is caused by situational factors. The way we interpret the cause of a behavior can influence how we respond to it in the future.

I think the most important construct for behavior change is whether someone views the cause of their behavior as something they can control. For example, if a student performs poorly on an exam and attributes it to not studying enough, they may be more motivated to change their study habits. However, if they believe they did poorly because they are simply not capable enough, they may be less likely to believe that changing their behavior will improve the outcome. Therefore, believing that behavior is influenced by controllable factors can increase motivation to make positive changes.