User:Pbary psych/Attribution (psychology)

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Attribution is a term used in psychology which deals with how individuals perceive the causes of everyday experience, as being either external or internal. Models to explain this process include: the covariation and Three dimensional model. These along with other ideas like correspondent inference help make up attribution theory. Psychological research into attribution began with the work of Fritz Heider in the early 20th century, and the theory was further advanced by Harold Kelley and Bernard Weiner. Heider first introduced the concept of perceived 'locus of causality' to define the perception of one's environment. For instance, an experience may be perceived as being caused by factors outside the person's control (external) or it may be perceived as the person's own doing (internal). These initial perceptions are called attributions. Psychologists use these attributions to better understand an individual's motivation and competence. The theory is of particular interest to employers who use it to increase worker motivation, goal orientation, and productivity.

Psychologists have identified various biases in the way people attribute causation, especially when dealing with others. The fundamental attribution error describes the tendency to attribute dispositional or personality-based explanations for behavior, rather than considering external factors. We tend to assume others are responsible for their own misfortunes, in other words, while blaming external factors for our own. Culture bias is when someone makes an assumption about the behavior of a person based on their own cultural practices and beliefs.

Attribution theory has been criticized as being mechanistic and reductionist for assuming that people are rational, logical, and systematic thinkers. It also fails to address the social, cultural, and historical factors that shape attributions of cause.

In sport and exercise[edit]
Attribution theory has been applied to a variety of sports and exercise contexts, such as, children's motivation for physical activity and African soccer.

In Marketing Communication[edit]
The Attribution theories have been used as a tool to analyze causal attributions made by consumers and its effectiveness in marketing communication.[clarification needed]

In education[edit]
Attribution theory has been used to research motivation in such educational contexts as learning languages and mathematics. The way in which teachers attribute behavior can impact their response to problematic children.