Attributions theory

Attribution theory is about how people explain the reasons behind their own and others' actions. It suggests that we look for underlying causes to make sense of behaviors, often attributing them to either internal factors (like personality or effort) or external factors (like circumstances or luck). For example, if someone excels at a task, we might think they’re talented (internal) or that they worked hard (internal), or perhaps the task was easy (external). This process helps us understand motivations and predict future behavior, influencing how we respond and relate to others.