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Attribution Theory of Motivation

The apparent reasons for success and failure are a focus of attribution theory. Assessment of the theory’s fundamental ideas is done with an emphasis on the causes and effects of apparent causation. Teachers’ actions, such as commendation and criticism, which might serve as a low intelligence signal, are among the antecedents or determinants of attributions that are explored.

The fact that attribution theory is that it tackles the causes and effects of both intrapersonal attributions (how one views oneself) and interpersonal attributions makes it stand out as a significant contribution (how one perceives other people).

What is the importance of attribution theory?

Organizations should pay attention to attribution theory because it may both help managers and workers understand why certain employee behaviors are shown in certain ways. You will have a greater sense of yourself, other people, and your organization if you can explain why you act the way you do and why those around you engage in the behaviors they do. Both supervisors’ and workers’ judgment and conduct may be impacted by how a certain activity is seen to have originated. It could be quite important for motivation as well.

Attribution theory attempts to explain a portion of the reasons for human conduct. In accordance with the notion, it’s important to be able to comprehend both your own and other people’s motivations for doing things. You want to assign causes; these actions should help you feel more in control of your own conduct and the circumstances that are connected to it.

What are the different types of attribution theories?

Researchers have classified attributions into internal vs. external and stable vs. unstable categories. Scholars can categorize a certain attribution as internal-stable, internal-unstable, external-stable, or external-unstable by integrating the two characteristic variables.

1. Internal vs. External: According to attribution theory, individuals can categorize their explanations for actions and occurrences as either internal or external. People infer that an occurrence or a person’s actions are caused by personal qualities like traits, talents, or sentiments when they use an internal, or dispositional, attribution. People assume that a person’s conduct is caused by situational conditions when they use an external, or situational, attribution.

2. Stable vs. Unstable: Psychologists additionally distinguish between attributions that are stable and those that are unstable. When individuals attribute anything to stable, unchangeable variables, they are implying that an occurrence or action is as a result of those elements. When they make an unstable attribution, they imply that an event or action is caused by unstable, transient causes.

Attribution Theory

The focus of attribution theory is on how people make sense of what is happening or how this influences their perceptions and actions. The very first psychological theory of attribution was put out by Heider (1958), but Weiner created a theoretical foundation that has since become a significant research model in social psychology.

According to the notion of attribution, people attempt to explain why others behave in a certain way or assign reasons to their behavior. When trying to comprehend another person’s actions, an individual may assign one or several explanations to that action.

3 stage process of Attribution Theory

An attribution is the result of a three-step procedure that begins with 

• the individual perceiving or observing the activity.
• Then, the subject must think that the action was deliberate.
•  Following that, the individual must decide if they think the other person was coerced into acting in a certain way (in which case, the circumstance is blamed as the reason or if the cause is attributed to the other person).

Weiner emphasized success in his attribution theory (Weiner, 1974). He determined that the most significant variables influencing attributions for accomplishment are talent, persistence, task complexity, and chance. Three causal dimensions—locus of control, stability, and controllability—are used to categorize attributes. The internal vs. external locus of control are the two poles of the locus of control dimension. The stability dimension describes whether or not causes alter over time. For example, effort can be categorized as an unstable external cause and ability as an internal, stable cause. Controllability distinguishes between factors that one can influence, such as competence or effectiveness, and factors that one cannot influence, including talent, temperament, the behavior of others, and chance.

principles of attribution theory

• “Attribution is a three stage process: (1) behavior is observed, (2) behavior is determined to be deliberate, and (3) behavior is attributed to internal or external causes.
• Achievement can be attributed to (1) effort, (2) ability, (3) level of task difficulty, or (4) luck.
• Causal dimensions of behavior are (1) locus of control, (2) stability, and (3) controllability.”