External Attribution in AP Psychology

Definition

External attribution refers to the tendency to explain someone's behavior based on situational factors or external influences rather than internal characteristics or personal traits.

Related terms

Internal Attribution: Internal attribution refers to explaining someone's behavior based on their personal characteristics or traits rather than situational factors.

Fundamental Attribution Error:

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize internal factors when explaining other people's behavior while underestimating the impact of situational factors.

Actor-Observer Bias:

The actor-observer bias is the tendency to attribute our own actions more to external causes (situational factors) and others' actions more to internal causes (personal traits).