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History and background:
Initial theories were developed by Fritz Heider, Edward Jones, Keith
Davis and Harold Kelley, all social psychologists. Heider first
wrote of attribution theory in 1958. However there have been modifications
since that time.
Attribution theory is seen as very relevant to the study of a person’s
perceptions, event perceptions and attitude change, which can then
lead to individuals impacting their own self-esteem, as well as
their own levels of anxiety. Heider specifically believed that people
acted on the basis of their beliefs, and that their beliefs must
be taken into account by the therapist. It did not matter whether
their beliefs were accurate, valid, or based in reality; individuals
would act based on their belief systems.
It is this author’s opinion that our or past experiences
definitely effect and contribute to one’s behavior. If we
have had negative reinforcement associated with certain stimuli
or encounters, we will then attribute those feelings with future
experiences. Clearly not all behavior can be accounted for by attribution
theory. It is only one tool in a tool box used to pinpoint how a
behavior may be related to other events that have occurred in the
past—cause and effect.
Examples of self attribution theory include situations which may
be positive or negative. A situation where individuals attribute
their excess to some external factor or their downfall to external
factors, i.e., students that may have failed a test may externalize
and attribute this failure to not studying well, studying the wrong
material, the instructor did not give us this information. This
externalization of blame takes the responsibility completely off
the student. Some individuals externalize thoughts or projections
of possible consequences of a current behavior. An example of this
would be teenagers buying alcohol and drinking in a vehicle may
become grossly anxious knowing what they are doing is illegal. This
level of anxiety may lead them either to drive slower, leads to
the awareness of police officers or others, subsequently getting
caught.
People who practice behaviors that contradict their moral value
structures often experience anxiety. The anxiety is a result of
perceptions (or attributes) individuals place on either themselves
or an event, that is in direct conflict with their existing value
structures.
Heider proposes that the attribution theory is also how we judge
others. We see a behavior, we judge the behavior as in intention
of purpose, and then we draw a conclusion, which is an attributed
disposition. Inaccurate or not, this is a common human behavior
that transcends many social interactions. Even though others’
behaviors that we observe, what then is subjective data from our
observation, we appear to draw conclusions and attribute their behavior
and intentions onto us. Part of the reason for this is it decreases
our own anxiety levels and our own responsibility because it projects
the responsibility for the negative results onto others. How convenient.
We then tend to hold others more responsible. Subsequently we have
to take less of the blame.
This attribution plays out in many diagnoses in psychiatry, and
also plays an important role in the assessment of individuals for
treatment.
In Native American cultures, one rarely observes this behavior.
I am sure it occurs, but to a much lesser degree. It is this author’s
experience that younger generation Native Americans more readily
use the self attribution theory.
We see these individuals state that the reason why alcoholism is
so prevalent is related to the white man’s supremacy and the
breaking of numerous treaties. Speaking to many elders, this has
not been the case. Elders frequently take responsibility and although
they recognize the plight, would like to see change and have voiced
concerns over their younger generation. Which begs the question,
yes, self attribution theory does exist, it was there in the late
1950’s and 1960’s when Heider first developed the theory.
However is it more prevalent in Western society, and less prevalent
in smaller cultures? Specifically tribal cultures? This author has
not found any research addressing this issue.
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