Synonyms
Definition
Attribution theory is concerned with the conventions that individuals use in attempting to explain their behavior (Weiner 1986).
Description
According to one of the main contributors in this area, Bernard Weiner, there is no one single attribution theory. Rather, there are a number of attribution-based theories, and attribution is better described as a field of study than as a single encompassing theory (Weiner 2008). Notwithstanding this clarification, the idea of an attribution-based theory of motivation has been around for years. The premise is simple – interpretation of what caused an outcome is proposed to influence future behavior. In terms of motivation, it has been suggested that individuals seek the causes of outcomes because they want to understand and explain those outcomes and predict future outcomes. As causes are sought for important outcomes, especially those where the outcome was not expected (e.g.,...
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References and Further Readings
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: Freeman.
Heider, F. (1958). The psychology of interpersonal relations. New York: Wiley.
Jones, E. E., Kanouse, D. E., Kelley, H. H., Nisbett, R. E., Valins, S., & Weiner, B. (Eds.). (1972). Attribution: Perceiving the causes of behavior. Morristown: General Learning Press.
Nickel, D., & Spink, K. S. (2010). Attributions and self-regulatory efficacy for health-related physical activity. Journal of Health Psychology, 15, 53–63.
Nickel, D., Spink, K. S., Andersen, M., & Knox, K. (2014). Attributions and self-efficacy for physical activity in multiple sclerosis. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 19, 433–441.
Roesch, S. C., & Weiner, B. (2001). A meta-analytic review of coping with illness: Do causal attributions matter? Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 50, 205–219.
Sarkisian, C. A., Prohaska, T. R., Davis, C., & Weiner, B. (2009). Pilot test of an attributional retraining intervention to raise walking levels in sedentary older adults. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 55, 1842–1846.
Spink, K. S., & Nickel, D. (2010). Self-regulatory efficacy as a mediator between attributions and intention for health-related physical activity. Journal of Health Psychology, 15, 75–84.
Spink, K. S., Brawley, L. R., & Gyurcsik, N. G. (inpress). Perceived success/failure and attributions predict self-regulatory efficacy to meet physical activity recommendations for women with arthritis. Women & Health.
Weiner, B. (1986). An attributional theory of motivation and emotion. New York: Springer.
Weiner, B. (2008). Reflections on the history of attribution theory and research: People, personalities, publications, problems. Social Psychology, 39, 151–156.
Weiner, B. (2010). The development of an attribution-based theory of motivation: A history of ideas. Educational Psychologist, 45, 28–36.
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© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Spink, K.S., Nickel, D. (2016). Attribution Theory. In: Gellman, M., Turner, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_298-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_298-2
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Latest
Attribution Theory- Published:
- 14 November 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_298-3
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Original
Attribution Theory- Published:
- 23 September 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_298-2