Attribution theory is a way to understand how we figure out why people act the way they do. It helps us think about how we blame or credit someone for their actions, which can affect how we feel about them.

Key Parts of Attribution Theory:

1. Internal vs. External Attributions:

   • Internal attribution looks at a person's behavior as a reflection of their character or personality. For example, if someone is late to a meeting, you might think, “They are careless.”
   • External attribution considers outside factors affecting behavior. In the same situation, you might think, “They got stuck in traffic.”

2. Impact on Judgments:

   • These kinds of attributions can change how we see and interact with people. If we always blame someone for failing because of their personality, we might start to think negatively about them.

3. Examples:

   • Teachers might think a student did poorly because they didn’t try hard enough, which could influence how the teacher treats that student in the future.
   • Friends might think a rude comment comes from a friend's bad day instead of seeing it as a part of their personality.

Understanding attribution theory helps us be more understanding and reduce miscommunication in our relationships with others.