Attributes

Definition

When a psychologist attributes a client's behavior to internal characteristics, they are assigning the cause of the behavior to personal traits or qualities within the individual. This can include attributing behaviors to personality traits, beliefs, or motivations.

Related terms

Situational Factors:

These are external conditions or influences that may have an impact on an individual's behavior. For example, environmental factors like peer pressure or cultural norms can influence how someone behaves.

Self-Serving Bias:

This is when individuals attribute their own successes to internal factors (like skill) but attribute failures to external factors (like bad luck). It relates to how people tend to protect their self-esteem by taking credit for positive outcomes and avoiding blame for negative ones.

Fundamental Attribution Error:

This refers to the tendency of individuals to overemphasize internal characteristics when explaining someone else's behavior while underestimating situational influences. It involves assuming that another person's actions are due to who they are as a person rather than considering external circumstances.