Attribution theory

• Attribution theory 


  The perceived causes of a particular outcome

  • Impacts
  • Reasons/justifications and excuses for winning or loosing
• Wieners model of attribution 


  The model

  
• Locus of causality 


  Reason given for success or failure related internal or external factors

  • Effort/ ability - internal
  • Difficulty/ luck - external
• Stability


  Reasons given for success or failure related stable or unstable

  • Ability- stable
  • Luck- unstable
• How attribution relates to motivation

  • reason for winning is stable
  • Reason for failure is unstable
• Self serving bias 


  A persons tendency to attribute their failures to external reason. An excuse to explain poor performance
• Wiener’s model of attribution- controllability

  • Ability - internal, stable, uncontrollable
  • Difficulty- external, stable, controllable/ uncontrollable
  • Effort - internal, unstable, controllable
  • Luck - external, unstable, uncontrollable