What does an external attribution imply?

An external attribution involves attributing someone’s behavior to situational factors rather than to personal characteristics or dispositions. This perspective emphasizes the influence of external circumstances, such as environmental conditions, social pressures, or contextual variables, in shaping behavior. For example, if someone is late to a meeting, an external attribution might consider factors such as traffic jams or unexpected emergencies that could have influenced their tardiness.

This contrasts with internal attributions, which focus on personal traits, motives, or abilities as the causes of one’s behavior. The emphasis of external attributions provides a broader understanding of human behavior by recognizing the role that context and environment play in influencing actions and decisions. Understanding this distinction is crucial in social psychology, particularly when analyzing how we perceive and judge others’ behaviors in various social situations.