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Attribution Theory

Attribution theory is concerned with the ways in which people explain (or attribute) the behavior of others, or themselves (self-attribution), with something else. It explores how individuals "attribute" causes to events and how this cognitive Perception affects their motivation.

The theory divides the way people attribute causes to events into two main types – internal and external.

External or situational Attribution assigns causality to an outside factor, such as the weather.

Whereas internal or dispositional Attribution assigns causality to factors within the person, such as their own level of intelligence, or other Variables that make the individual responsible for the event.