Motivational influence of behavioral desirability on actors' and observers' attributions

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Charles A. Lowe
Ranald Ansen
Cite this article:  Lowe, C., & Ansen, R. (1976). Motivational influence of behavioral desirability on actors' and observers' attributions. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 4(1), 17-26.


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Jones and Nisbett’s (1971) proposition that actors favor environmental attribution and observers personal attribution was investigated. Participants attributed causality from 2 perspectives (observer versus role-playing actor) for verbally-described behaviors which varied in desirability (low versus moderate versus high). The results suggested that motivational considerations mediated actor-observer attributional differences. While observers attributed more personal cause than did actors at all levels of desirability, this actor-observer difference was attenuated as behavioral desirability increased. Actor-observer differences were not evidenced on environmental attribution, suggesting that perspective differences represent a differential salience of personal causes for actors and observers.
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© 1976 Scientific Journal Publishers Limited. All Rights Reserved.