How does one decide to make an internal or external attribution?

Question

Our impressions of others often are based on how we attribute qualities of their personality. give examples of internal versus external causes of attribution

Answer 1

The previous answerer did a really good job. I would just add that first, we dont' usually "decide" to make a certain type of attribution; we just do it. And, most of us make the fundamental attribution "bias" (it has changed from "error") the previous answerer referenced (we attribute the behavior of others to internal causes, of ourselves to external causes). This is generally because we know more about the external factors influencing our own lives than we do about those of others.
If you are talking about changing your tendency to "bias" your attributions, this will take a conscious effort to overcome the "natural" tendency. Whenever you observe someone else's behavior, make mental note of the assumptions you are making. Generally you will be thinking things like "they are _______ " (fill in the blank with an adjective: smart, stupid, mean, impatient, good, kind, etc.). Then search for a different possible cause external to the person (it's raining for why a person is driving so slowly; they might be rushing a pregnant woman to the hospital for why a person runs a red light, etc). Although the tendency might still be to make internal attributions, exploring the other possibilities will help to overcome the bias.

Answer 2

External Attribution

Answer 3

Internal Attribution

Answer 4

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RE:
How does one decide to make an internal or external attribution?
Our impressions of others often are based on how we attribute qualities of their personality. give examples of internal versus external causes of attribution

Answer 5

The best example I can think of is someone who is running late. If one were to place an external attribution to this behavior it would typically be, "Oh, they must be caught in traffic." However if one looked for an internal attribution than they might say, "Oh, he/she is late cause they are lazy." With the later being most likely.

Therein lies the fundamental attribution error. We tend to attribute all our behaviors to outward, uncontrollable forces (traffic). While others flaws are perceived as personal qualities that they posses (laziness).

Another example would be if you spotted someone yelling at a store clerk. If you were to say, "That is just a mean person!" You would be attributing their behaviors to their personality. While if you were to say, "They must be having a really bad day." You'd be recognizing that something outside their sphere of control caused them to behave in that manner.

How we decide to view others actions is an entirely personal decision. We can choose to view others in a negative light with the belief that all their behaviors are character flaws (internal). Or we can recognize that people aren't always able to control everything around them (external).