Theory and Implications of

Attribution Theory

2006118 2006148
Anand Sivasankaran Sujata Menon
2006120 2006128
Ashish Paretha Jayachandran C P
Results of a test
You get the grade for a test that you have
recently written. You peek inside the grade-
sheet and realize that you have got…

The book is really 10 out of 10!!!!!!!!!

bad – does not
explain anything!! Too much of
pressure at office
– Did not get time
at all!!
The Professor was
too fast!!!!

Courtesy: http://www.as.wvu.edu/~sbb/comm221/chapters/attrib.htm
Results of a test
You get the grade for a test that you have
recently written. You peek inside the grade-
sheet and realize that you have got…

I knew it – I had 10 out of 10!!!!!!!!!

worked out all the
problems!! I had spent so
many sleepless
nights
I listened so
carefully in the
class!

Courtesy: http://www.as.wvu.edu/~sbb/comm221/chapters/attrib.htm
 So what’s happening here?
( and this is THE secret) 

“Whenever there is an event, we tend to attribute

causes to it...
…..and we do it such that we always maintain…….
………a positive self-image!”

“people look for explanation

External
of behavior, associating
O F B E H AVIOUR either dispositional (internal)
CAUSE
attributes or situational
Internal (external) attributes“
Courtesy: http://allpsych.com/dictionary/a.html
 Fritz Heider, Harold Kelley, Edward E.
Jones, and Keith Davis say…
PEOPLE ATTRIBUTE CAUSES TO EVENTS: … AND ALSO HOLD BIASES
 External or Situational  Self Serving Attributions

  Fundamental Attribution Error

Internal or Dispositional
Environment Person

Behavior,therefore,
Behavior, therefore,

BB==f f( (PP, ,EE) )

Courtesy: Nelson and Quick, OB, Chapter 3
 It’s all about perception!!
Locus of
Stability Responsibility Attributed to Example
Control
Controllable Never Studies!
Stable
Uncontrollable Ability Low Aptitude
INTERNAL Did not study for this
Controllable Effort
Unstable test
Uncontrollable Sick on Exam Day!
Controllable Instructor is biased
Stable Task Course has tough
Uncontrollable
EXTERNAL Difficulty requirements
Controllable Co-students did not help
Unstable
Uncontrollable Luck Bad Luck!

Courtesy: http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Attribution_theory
http://education.calumet.purdue.edu/vockell/EdPsyBook/Edpsy5/Edpsy5_attribution.htm
Three Determining Factors
 Distinctiveness — consistency of a person’s behavior across
situations.
 Is the behavior unusual ?
▪ If yes, there is an external attribution

 Consensus — likelihood of others responding in a similar way.

 Is the consensus high?
▪ If yes, there is an external attribution

 Consistency — whether an individual responds the same way

across time.
 Is the behavior inconsistent?
▪ If yes, there is an external attribution
To Grasp the theories…

 The Question – “Why?”

 My Answer – Attribution.
 My future behavior is influenced by my
attribution.

….. THEN, if we influence a person’s attributions,

we can influence his behavior!
 Attribution theory @ the Workplace
Success is due to.. Failure is due to.. SO?
High High Ability and Bad Luck or Task Failure does not reduce moral, but
Success build confidence !!!!
Achievers Effort Difficulty
Willing to take responsibility and tasks
Low Good Luck Doubt their Success not feel rewarding, and failure
seems default
Achievers “Knowing the ability
right people” Does not exercise Avoids responsibility and tasks
effort

In the rat race, be careful, what you attribute failure to.

Imagine a running race, where the runner has put in his
best, but did not win, what will we attribute the failure
to?

Courtesy: http://www.tcw.utwente.nl/theorieenoverzicht/Theory%20clusters/Interpersonal%20Communication%20and
%20Relations/attribution_theory.doc/
 Attribution theory @ the Workplace
Attributional models in leadership
▪ Leaders emerge out of causal attribution by the team.
▪ Leaders perceive the subordinates behavior.

Suresh hits You

Rajesh Suresh
Rajesh. Why?
Usually, Internal attribution
Usually, External attribution
“Suresh must have…..”
“Situation warranted that I hit…”
Courtesy: Nelson and Quick, OB, Chapter 3 And many more such applications…
 To summarize…
 Attribution is about how individuals interpret events and links
this to behavior and thinking.

 Basic Principles
3 Stages •Observe behavior
•Behavior is deliberate and not incidental
•Causal Attribution
4 Factors •Ability
•Effort
•Task Difficulty
•Luck
3 Dimensions •Locus of Control
•Stability
•Controllability

Courtesy: http://tip.psychology.org/weiner.html
References
 Attribution Theory (http://www.as.wvu.edu/~sbb/comm221/chapters/attrib.htm)

 ALLPsych Psychological Dictionary (http://allpsych.com/dictionary/a.html)

 Nelson and Quick, OB, Chapter 3

 CTER WikEd – Attribution theory (http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Attribution_theory)

 Attribution Theory and Motivation (

http://education.calumet.purdue.edu/vockell/EdPsyBook/Edpsy5/Edpsy5_attribution.htm
)

 TCW – Attribution Theory (

http://www.tcw.utwente.nl/theorieenoverzicht/Theory%20clusters/Interpersonal%20Co
mmunication%20and%20Relations/attribution_theory.doc/
)

 TIP: Theories – Attribution Theory (B. Weiner) (http://tip.psychology.org/weiner.html)

We can attribute your knowledge to this presentation 

Thank you!