Attribution Theory

Program Manager,Safe and Drug-Free SchoolsGeorgia Dept. of Education

PRESENTER

Cheryl Benefield

Instructional Designer,Professional ExcellenceAndrew Young School of Policy StudiesGeorgia State University

FACILITATOR

Pat Strawser

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Attribution Theory

Program Manager,Safe and Drug-Free SchoolsGeorgia Dept. of Education

PRESENTER

Cheryl Benefield

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The difference betweenthe right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.

Mark Twain

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Why is it important to be aware of our habits when working with children?

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Break existing patterns and change paradigms

Generate more ideas and develop fresh thinking

Solve challenging problems in new and different ways

Edward DeBono, M.D., has held appointments at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and MIT

Edward De Bono

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A NEW WAY OFTHINKING

THINKINGA NEW WAY OF

Linear vs. Lateral Thinking

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If you’re thinking laterally, how might your thought

process be different?

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Don’ts Dos

Don’t choose

Don’t look for what is right

Don’t follow a sequence

Don’t concentrate on relevance

Don’t accept the obvious

Change

Look for what is different

Make deliberate jumps

Welcome chance intrusions

Explore less likely directions

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Perspective

Diseases

• Do not occur bychance

• Are not distributed at random

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Diseases

• Do not occur bychance

• Are not distributed at random

Perspective

Disruptive Behaviors

• Do not occur by chance

• Are not distributed at random

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Decisions are more often driven by our reactions than facts.

Khal Simon

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Decisions are more often driven by our reactions than facts.

Khal Simon

How we characterize

behavior in large part determines

how we react to the behavior.

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Attribution Theory

The attempt to understand the behavior

of others by attributing causation to

feelings, beliefs, intentions, personality

or situations.

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What do you think happens when we attribute the

wrong cause to the behavior?

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FundamentalAttribution

Error

Fundamental Attribution Error

The fundamental attribution error is our tendency to explain someone’s behavior based on internal factors, such as personality or disposition, and to underestimate the influence that external factors, such as situational influences, have on another person’s behavior.

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The causesof events always interest us more than the events themselves.Cicero

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Fact Story Belief Act

Fundamental Attribution Error

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Fact Story Belief Act

Fundamental Attribution Error

Where we get it

WRONG

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Fundamental Attribution ErrorApplied

• We attribute other people’s negative behavior to

internal motives, but we attribute our own negative

behavior to circumstances.

• We attribute positive events and outcomes to our

own abilities, but we attribute other people’s positive

events and outcomes to circumstances.

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FundamentalAttribution

Error

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What fundamental attr ibution errors might effect how you relate

to chi ldren?

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Your perceptions create your reality.

Your perceptions can be deceptive.

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Your perceptions

can be deceptive.

We don’t see things as they are.We see them as we are.Anais Nin

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What impacts your perceptions?

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Attribution Applied • Attribution impacts observations, diagnosis,

interventions, consequences, and follow-up by adults.

• Attribution also impacts students – learned helplessness.

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Attribution Applied

The motivational effect of learned helplessness is often seen in the classroom.

Students who repeatedly fail may think they are incapable of improving their performance

How might this attribution perception impact these students?

Learned helplessness may be a factor in the development of a victim mentality in

a child or young adult.

Children who are extremely shy or anxious in social situations may become passive and others may perceive them poorly

Attribution Applied

Attribution and learned helplessness leads to a

"failure is fatal" mentality instead of being able to

learn from mistakes.

This leads to the following:• An overreaction to failure

• Depression• Over reliance on experience

Staff training: applying principles of attribution to interaction style and influence and willingness to “take a second look.”

Teacher training: applying principles of attribution to classroommanagement, student behavior, student engagement, and classroom design.

Student training: applying principles of attribution to cause and

effect (i.e., student attributing outcomes to preconceived beliefs toenhance self-confidence and build resilience)

Attribution Theory Training

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Attribution Theory Training• Attribution training can:

• Reduce physical problems (Rosendal, et. al)

• Reduce depression and anxiety (Larisch, et al)

• Increase academic performance (Vazehie)

• Increase accuracy of diagnosis and interventions (Qaympnah, et al)

• Reduce learned helplessness (Holder and Levi)

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