Forming Impressions:
attribution theories Correspondent Interference Theory & Covariation Theory
Correspondent Interference Theory suggests we attribute others' behaviours based
on degree of choice, expectation and intended consequences
degree of choice (+example) did he chose to act in this manner? was he forced?
(ex: you may develop strong emotions for or against an actor playing a role based on
the role's characteristics)
expectation how expected/typical a behaviour is; uncommon behaviour gives us a lot
more information (to infer a cause) than a common one
intended consequences looking at underlying intentions of behaviour
Covariation Theory determines if we will attribute someone's behaviour to dispositional
factors or situational factors; consistency, distinctiveness, consensus
consistency does this person usually behave this way in this particular situation? If yes,
we can continue to seek an explanation for the behaviour
distinctiveness does the individual behave differently in different situations? Yes =
situational behaviour; No = dispositional behaviour
consensus do others behave similarly in this particular situation? Yes = situational
(everyones behaviour is similarly influenced by this situation); No = dispositional (the
different behaviours in the given situation likely due to each individual's unique
disposition)
Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE) coined by Ross; our tendency to over-value
dispositional factors for the observed behaviour of others while under-valuing situational
factor
Actor/Observer Effect you as the actor are better aware of the situational factors
affecting your behaviour, but when you observe others you only have the current
situation at hand & you assume the person's behaviour is typical for them/dispositional
evidence of actor/observer effect from teen drivers teens are more likely to attribute
their own risky driving to situational factors & attribute their friends' risky driving to
dispositional factors
collectivist society people from these are less likely to make the fundamental
attribution error; asian countries
cultural differences in FAE for young children american 8-11 year olds attribute
behaviour to situational and dispositional causes equally; indian children, by 11 years
old, attribute behaviour to situational factors more often
cultural differences in FAE for teens and adults american adults tend to attribute
behaviours to dispositional factors more often; indian adults tend to attribute behaviours
to situational factors more often
attributions made by Olympics athletes from different cultures American gold
medalists are more likely to attribute their performance to their determination and talent
while Japanese gold medalists are more likely to attribute their performance to the
success of the coaching team & organization
where does the fundamental attribution error decrease? where there is less focus
on individual behaviour and more focus on relationships & roles within society
self-serving bias tendency to perceive yourself favourably; may lead you to think you
are above average on many things like attractiveness, intelligence and social skills
attribution theories Correspondent Interference Theory & Covariation Theory
Correspondent Interference Theory suggests we attribute others' behaviours based
on degree of choice, expectation and intended consequences
degree of choice (+example) did he chose to act in this manner? was he forced?
(ex: you may develop strong emotions for or against an actor playing a role based on
the role's characteristics)
expectation how expected/typical a behaviour is; uncommon behaviour gives us a lot
more information (to infer a cause) than a common one
intended consequences looking at underlying intentions of behaviour
Covariation Theory determines if we will attribute someone's behaviour to dispositional
factors or situational factors; consistency, distinctiveness, consensus
consistency does this person usually behave this way in this particular situation? If yes,
we can continue to seek an explanation for the behaviour
distinctiveness does the individual behave differently in different situations? Yes =
situational behaviour; No = dispositional behaviour
consensus do others behave similarly in this particular situation? Yes = situational
(everyones behaviour is similarly influenced by this situation); No = dispositional (the
different behaviours in the given situation likely due to each individual's unique
disposition)
Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE) coined by Ross; our tendency to over-value
dispositional factors for the observed behaviour of others while under-valuing situational
factor
Actor/Observer Effect you as the actor are better aware of the situational factors
affecting your behaviour, but when you observe others you only have the current
situation at hand & you assume the person's behaviour is typical for them/dispositional
evidence of actor/observer effect from teen drivers teens are more likely to attribute
their own risky driving to situational factors & attribute their friends' risky driving to
dispositional factors
collectivist society people from these are less likely to make the fundamental
attribution error; asian countries
cultural differences in FAE for young children american 8-11 year olds attribute
behaviour to situational and dispositional causes equally; indian children, by 11 years
old, attribute behaviour to situational factors more often
cultural differences in FAE for teens and adults american adults tend to attribute
behaviours to dispositional factors more often; indian adults tend to attribute behaviours
to situational factors more often
attributions made by Olympics athletes from different cultures American gold
medalists are more likely to attribute their performance to their determination and talent
while Japanese gold medalists are more likely to attribute their performance to the
success of the coaching team & organization
where does the fundamental attribution error decrease? where there is less focus
on individual behaviour and more focus on relationships & roles within society
self-serving bias tendency to perceive yourself favourably; may lead you to think you
are above average on many things like attractiveness, intelligence and social skills
