Question

When determining whether someone’s behavior (i.e. being late for work) is due to internal attributions or external attributions, which 3 types of information do we use? What are the conditions of each type of information (high or low) that would cause you to determine the behavior was based on internal attributions? What are the conditions of each type of information (high or low) that would cause you to determine the behavior was based on external attributions?

Answer 1

Ans:

Attribution is a critical element for judging peoples’ behavior. Understanding peoples’ behavior has significant influence on decision making in an organization. Wrong perception of someone’s behavior may result in wrong decision and loss to the organization. By way of attribution we try to understand peoples’ behavior and interpret events which cause specific behavior. An individual’s behavior is attributed to -internal and external factors. Behavior caused by personal factors such as individual capabilities, traits and understandings is internal attributions. In external attributions, peoples’ behavior is caused by external factors such as situations which are beyond control of the person. For example, an employee not performing due to his capability is internal attribution, while the lack of training is external attribution. A person’s behavior can be judged by observing the person’s behavior and determining that his behavior is intentional. Based on the analysis the attributions are determined.

According to Kelley, consistency, distinctiveness and consensus are the three elements which must be examined to judge a person’s behavior. This would help in confirming the belief or perception of the person who is making the judgment.

How consistent a person’s behavior in the same circumstances is judged by consistency. If a person’s behavior is same in the same types of situation, consistency is said to be high and if not then consistency is low.

Distinctiveness refers to same behavior in a variety of circumstances. Distinctiveness is low if the person behaves same in different circumstances and it is high if the behavior is different in different situations.

Consensus refers to same behavior by other people in a particular situation. If other peoples’ behavior is same then the consensus is high, otherwise it is low.

To analyze the attributes for a person’s behavior, consistency, distinctiveness and consensus are evaluated and based on the outcome a judgment is made about internal and external attributes. A person’s behavior is attributed to external factors if consistency, distinctiveness and consensus are high and it is attributed to internal factors if consistency is high and distinctiveness & consensus are low.