Attribution theory helps us understand how we look at our own successes and failures, as well as those of others. A big part of this theory is how we explain why things turn out the way they do. We can look at outcomes in two ways: internal attributions and external attributions.
Internal attributions are when we connect results to our personal qualities. For example, if a student does really well on a test, they might think, “I did great because I’m smart” or “I worked hard and studied a lot.” This can make them feel proud and boost their motivation. They feel like they accomplished something because of their own abilities.
On the other hand, if that same student fails a test, they might say, “I failed because I’m not good enough.” This can lead to feelings of sadness or anxiety about their abilities, making them not want to try as hard in the future.
External attributions, on the other hand, are when we blame things that happen to us on factors outside of our control. For instance, if the same student passes the exam because the questions were easier than they expected, they might say, “I passed because the test was too easy.”
If they fail, they could think, “The teacher didn’t like me,” or “The test wasn’t fair.” This way, it doesn’t feel as bad because they don’t think they messed up; instead, they see the outcome as being caused by something else.
How we explain our successes and failures can change how we react to them:
Reactions to Success:
Reactions to Failure:
Let’s think about two basketball players. Player A makes a winning shot in a big game. If Player A thinks, “I’m a great shooter, and my practice helped me,” they are likely to feel proud and want to practice even more.
But Player B, who makes the winning shot, might say, “That was just a lucky shot.” This could make Player B less motivated to improve their skills.
Now, imagine both players miss important shots during the game. Player A might think, “I messed up; I’ll never succeed,” while Player B thinks, “The referee was unfair; the game was rigged.” Player B is likely to feel less upset and more willing to play again, whereas Player A’s thinking might make them feel discouraged.
Understanding how we explain our successes and failures can help us react better to them. By recognizing these patterns in ourselves and others, we can build more resilience and motivation. This can ultimately help us grow as individuals and achieve more in life.
Attribution theory helps us understand how we look at our own successes and failures, as well as those of others. A big part of this theory is how we explain why things turn out the way they do. We can look at outcomes in two ways: internal attributions and external attributions.
Internal attributions are when we connect results to our personal qualities. For example, if a student does really well on a test, they might think, “I did great because I’m smart” or “I worked hard and studied a lot.” This can make them feel proud and boost their motivation. They feel like they accomplished something because of their own abilities.
On the other hand, if that same student fails a test, they might say, “I failed because I’m not good enough.” This can lead to feelings of sadness or anxiety about their abilities, making them not want to try as hard in the future.
External attributions, on the other hand, are when we blame things that happen to us on factors outside of our control. For instance, if the same student passes the exam because the questions were easier than they expected, they might say, “I passed because the test was too easy.”
If they fail, they could think, “The teacher didn’t like me,” or “The test wasn’t fair.” This way, it doesn’t feel as bad because they don’t think they messed up; instead, they see the outcome as being caused by something else.
How we explain our successes and failures can change how we react to them:
Reactions to Success:
Reactions to Failure:
Let’s think about two basketball players. Player A makes a winning shot in a big game. If Player A thinks, “I’m a great shooter, and my practice helped me,” they are likely to feel proud and want to practice even more.
But Player B, who makes the winning shot, might say, “That was just a lucky shot.” This could make Player B less motivated to improve their skills.
Now, imagine both players miss important shots during the game. Player A might think, “I messed up; I’ll never succeed,” while Player B thinks, “The referee was unfair; the game was rigged.” Player B is likely to feel less upset and more willing to play again, whereas Player A’s thinking might make them feel discouraged.
Understanding how we explain our successes and failures can help us react better to them. By recognizing these patterns in ourselves and others, we can build more resilience and motivation. This can ultimately help us grow as individuals and achieve more in life.