attribution theory

A detailed Summary of attribution theory


Attribution Theory: Is It Really Fair?

One of the easiest theories to accept and understand is Heider's Attribution Theory. This theory is used to explain how a person comes to a quick decision about someone or their personality, based on that person's behavior. Basically stated, we attribute a characteristic, such as labeling one as a thief, because we observed the person participating in a particular behavior, such as shoplifting. On the surface of this theory, we can say this it is correct in its assumption, since that is how we generally want to judge others. But upon analysis of this theory, we find that this theory does not apply to 100 percent of the situations that may arise. As with all theories, there are strengths, but this one also has glaring weaknesses. This theory is also known to be objective, but I can not easily attribute all five criteria of objective theories to this it.

There are obvious strengths to this theory. If you have observed the behavior of a person, especially the same behavior or action repeatedly, then it is fair to attribute that behavior to that person. For years, civil rights activists have been trying to make this society o


ne where a person is judged by the content of their character, or who that person is on the inside, rather than by the way a person may look or who he or she is on the outside. It is popular for people to say "actions speak louder than words." For these reasons, we are being judged each minute of each day. The Attribution Theory explains why we make these decisions and why it is so important to make a good first impression. These first actions are what people will be judging you by and most of the time, their observations will stick and leave you with no opportunity to change that impression. Another strength of this theory is it can satisfy four of the five criteria for being an objective theory. It explains the data, it is very simplistic which as helps to make it practical, an finally, the hypothesis is testable by just observing the person longer to see if he or she continues to demonstrate the behavior with which that person has been labeled.

As I stated earlier, this theory easily satisfies four of the criteria for being considered objective. I have to question its ability to correctly predict the future, though. I am skeptical of anything that claims to ha

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