Short note on three causal dimensions in weiners attribution theroy of motivation
Answers
Attribution theory is concerned with how individuals interpret events and how this relates to their thinking and behavior.
Attribution is a three stage process: (1) behavior is observed, (2) behavior is determined to be deliberate, and (3) behavior is attributed to internal or external causes.
Achievement can be attributed to (1) effort, (2) ability, (3) level of task difficulty, or (4) luck.
Causal dimensions of behavior are (1) locus of control, (2) stability, and (3) controllability
The three dimensions:;
1. Stability – how stable is the attribution? For example, if the student believes they failed the exam because they weren’t smart enough, this is a stable factor. An unstable factor is less permanent, such as being ill.
According to Weiner, stable attributions for successful achievements, such as passing exams, can lead to positive expectations, and thus higher motivation, for success in the future.
However, in negative situations, such as failing the exam, stable attributions can lead to lower expectations in the future.
2. Locus of control – was the event caused by an internal or an external factor?
For example, if the student believes it’s their own fault they failed the exam because they are innately not smart enough (an internal cause), they may be less motivated in the future. If they believed an external factor was to blame, such as poor teaching, they may not experience such a drop in motivation.
3. Controllability – how controllable was the situation? If an individual believes they could have performed better, they may be less motivated to try again in the future than someone who believes they failed because of factors outside of their control.