Athletes' attributions for team performance: A theoretical test across sports and genders

This study investigated reasons that men and women college athletes gave for their teams' performances. Different predictions drawn from ego-serving bias theory (Miller & Ross, 1975), self-esteem theory (Dittes, 1959; Jones, 1973), and cognitive consistency theory (Festinger, 1957; Heider, 1958) were tested. Across three studies, men and women basketball players, and men football players responded to a measure of self-esteem and an attribution measure of internality/externality following team wins and losses. Results across the studies provided strong support for ego-serving bias theory. However, gender differences were observed in that the ego-serving tendency to internalize wins to a greater extent than losses was not significantly present for women basketball players as compared to men basketball and football players. Additionally, results provided partial support for cognitive consistency theory, while failing to support self-esteem theory.