Attributional Processes

Attributional processes refer to how we interpret and explain the reasons behind people's behavior or events. When we observe someone acting a certain way, we try to determine whether their actions are due to their personality (internal attribution) or external circumstances (external attribution). For example, if someone is late, we might think they are careless (internal) or stuck in traffic (external). These mental processes help us make sense of the social world, influencing our reactions and expectations of others.