Attributions and assumptions made in each situation

Reference no: EM13776462

We make attributions every day about our own behaviors and the behaviors of the people that we interact with. And depending on what we attribute to the cause of a person or our behavior this directly affects our attitudes and behaviors toward that person. If our attributions are correct, then outcome can be positive, as they can help us to work more effectively with that person or to make better decisions for ourselves. However, if we make an error in our attribution of the cause of a behavior, then our own following behaviors can negatively compound the situation.

Consider the following situations that we have all experienced:

You go out to lunch with your friend and find that your waitress is a bit absentminded and is not in the best of mood as she takes your order and serves you. You tell your friend that this lady should not be a waitress and needs to find a new job because her attitude stinks.

You pull into a gas station and there is only one free pump, but you cannot get to it because there is a person at the first pump. You think to yourself "What a jerk, I can't believe they did not pull up to the second pump."

Why were these attributions and assumptions made in each situation? Are they most likely accurate or not?
What are some alternative explanations for the behaviors of the waitress and person pumping gas? Why do we typically not assume these later explanations but rather jump to the conclusions made in the examples?
If you were the person in each of these scenarios and took a minute to look back at these behaviors would you have the same thoughts about yourself (you are in the wrong job or that you are a jerk)? Why might the attributions of your own behaviors be different than your attributions of others' behaviors?
With all of this in mind how will you apply this to your future attributions and associated behavior when faced with these types of situations?

Reference no: EM13776462

Questions Cloud

Calculate the net present value with a required return : Calculate the net present value with a required return of 8%, an initial investment of $45,000, and cash flows of $12,000, $20,000, $10,000, and $6,000 for years 1 through 4 respectively.

Equal employment opportunity commission : Your employee, Tom Smith, believes women are treated as inferiors in the department where he works. He has complained to his supervisor, Doug Greer, who is also your employee, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Greer has resp..

What is the breakeven point in sales dollars : Flip had sales of $10,000 (100 units at $100 per). Manufacturing costs consisted of direct labor $1,500, direct materials $1,400, variable factory overhead $1,000, and fixed factory overhead $500. The company did not maintain any inventories, so tota..

Compute the family and school risk factors : Compare and contrast male and female gang members. Why do these differences exist? Determine the family and school risk factors for gang involvement

Attributions and assumptions made in each situation : If you were the person in each of these scenarios and took a minute to look back at these behaviors would you have the same thoughts about yourself (you are in the wrong job or that you are a jerk)? Why might the attributions of your own behaviors..

Unit of product using activity-based costing : Assume that a pet food manufacturer s considering adding two types of pet food to its existing product line. Research had determined that good demand exists for dog food in 40-pound bags and cat food in 1/2 pound cans. How much overhead cost will be ..

Employee motivation according to the theory : Define Herzberg's Theory. Identify specific proactive steps supervisors can take to influence employee motivation according to the theory. Discuss how different generations might or might not be motivated according to the theory.

State the political system of your community : State the political system of your community. What are the rules. Compare and contrast to existing systems that you researched.

How should the court hold and why : The trial court held for Taylor, Paramount appealed. How should the court hold and why? Assume that Taylor keeps it judgment, how can they collect their money

User Account

All Pages