PSYC 2230 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Balance Theory, Social Desirability Bias, Reference Group

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2230
• Professor: Frank Marchese

Document Summary

Attribution theory the study of how we make decisions concerning the events we experience. Concerns factors assumed by the general public to cause people"s behaviour. People attribute behaviour to particular factors either to consistent personality characteristics (dispositions) or to aspects of the social situation of the persons involved. This theory examines the explanations at which we arrive both when we observe someone elses behaviour and also when we observe our own behaviour and relates these to observable characteristics of the individual and situation. Attributions do serve to alter future behaviour, rather like motivational variables are thought to do so. It assumes that we do attempt to determine the causes of both our own behaviour and that of others. Summary attribution theories propose that we are motivated to try to understand the environment in which we are immersed. Origin of attribution theory fritz heider; also responsible for balance theory.