Causal Attribution

Causal attribution is the process of identifying the reasons behind events or behaviors. When we observe something happening, we often try to figure out whether it was caused by external factors, like the environment or other people, or internal factors, such as a person's personality or intentions. For example, if a student fails a test, we might attribute that to lack of studying (internal) or an unfair exam (external). Understanding causal attribution helps us make sense of situations and influences how we respond, both to ourselves and others.