- Attributions may influence outcome expectancies.
- Outcome expectancies are influenced by our perception of the contingency between behaviours and outcomes or consequences. (Social Cognitive Learning Theory)
- Attributions are the explanation we give to a past outcome we have experienced.
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Personal |
Permanent |
Pervasive |
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Where the cause of an event arises. People experiencing events may see themselves as
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The extent of the cause. People may see the situation as unchangeable. |
The extent of the effects. People may see the situation as affecting all aspects of life.
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Task failure is demotivating. In some circumstances, attributions may be more powerful determinantsof outcome expectancies than actual reinforcement contingencies.
In one study participants were asked to find rules common to 5-symbol strings after receiving instructions designed to lead to internal or external performance attributions. Reinforcement, operationalised as praise, was given on either a variable interval or variable ratio schedule. In the difficult problem-solving task, the attribution suggested to participants was a more important determinant of response rate than the reinforcement schedule.
- We male specific attributions that influence outcome expectancies for specific events.
- We have characteristic beliefs about the extent to which we can influence the world around us and show behaviour that results in good outcomes.
pessimistic explanatory style
- predisposition to expect bad outcomes
optimistic explanatory style
- predisposition to expect good outcomes.
- internal, stable, and control attributions for good outcomes
- external attributions for bad outcomes.