Attribution
Attribution is the way we explain the reasons for our own and others' behavior.
Definition
Attribution is the attribution of causes to behaviors, successes, failures and events. It may concern internal factors, e.g. characteristics and intentions, or external factors, e.g. situations and conditions. Attribution style affects emotions, motivation, relationships and sense of agency. Attribution errors are common in relationships, such as overestimating a person's characteristics and underestimating the context.
Key ideas
- Interpretation of causes
- Impact on self-esteem and motivation
- Risk of cognitive distortions
Practice and life
After a difficult event, list three possible explanations: personal, situational and mixed, and then rate their likelihood.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to automatically blame yourself or others without analyzing the context. A common mistake is to permanently label based on a single behavior.
> The way events are explained can change emotions faster than the event itself.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What cause did I assign to this event and why?
- Have I considered situational factors?
- Which interpretation gives me the most agency without distorting the facts?