A causal explanation using evidence from a person's personality. "Matt won the prize because he is so smart."

Dispositional attribution (internal)

A causal explanation using evidence from the situation a person is in. "Matt ate the ice cream because it was hot outside."

Situational attribution (external)

Two employees, Sam and Chloe, are passed over for the same promotion. Sam believes, 'I didn't get the promotion because I lack the advanced skills needed for that role.' Chloe believes, 'I didn't get the promotion because the manager has personal favorites.' What is the fundamental difference in how Sam and Chloe perceive the cause of this outcome?

A dimension within attribution theory, the locus of control identifies whether the cause of an outcome is perceived as internal to a person (e.g., personality, effort) or external to them (e.g., luck, environmental factors).

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A prominent model of attribution suggests that we analyze the cause of a result based on three key dimensions: the locus of control (whether the cause is internal or external), stability (whether the cause is stable or unstable), and controllability (whether the cause is controllable or not). This framework was proposed by Weiner in 1979.

Three Dimensions of Attribution (Weiner, 1979)

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Locus of Control in Attribution

Within attribution theory, stability refers to the degree to which the circumstances causing an outcome are considered changeable. Causes that are unlikely to change over time are classified as stable.

Stability in Attribution

A dimension of attribution theory, controllability assesses the extent to which the circumstances leading to an outcome can be influenced or managed. Factors that an individual has power over are deemed controllable.

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