Theories of Attribution

Theories of attribution explore how people explain the causes of behavior—whether their own or others’. The main idea is that we tend to attribute actions to either internal factors (like personality or intentions) or external factors (such as circumstances or environment). For example, if someone succeeds, we might think they are talented (internal), or if they fail, we might blame bad luck (external). These theories help us understand how perceptions of causes influence our judgments, expectations, and reactions in everyday life and social interactions.