Q1. Define Attribution and discuss the theories of attribution.
- Attribution is explaining behavior's causes (internal/external).
- Heider's Naive Psychology: People act as naive scientists, seeking cause.
- Correspondent Inference Theory: Infers dispositions from intentional, unique, undesirable acts.
- Kelley's Covariation Model: Uses consensus, distinctiveness, and consistency data.
Answer: Attribution, in social psychology, refers to the process by which individuals explain the causes of behavior and events. It involves making inferences about why people act the way they do, whether it's their own actions or the actions of others. This cognitive process helps us understand, predict, and control our social world by assigning causes to observed behaviors (IGNOU, BPCC-132, Block 1, Unit 3). Fritz Heider's 'Naive Psychology' was one of the earliest theories of attribution, proposing ...