PSYTools_Attributions_dig

sTaY connecTed Psychtools

I got a for school
Bad Grade
Because A
??
B

To access other Psychtools Psychtools F
for School resources please
visit: http://tinyurl.com/hbw7zff for school Attributions

This project was supported
by the APS Fund for Teaching
and Public Understanding of
Psychological Science.

Project Creators: Attributions
Dr. April McGrath,
Dr. Amanda Clark,
Dr. Kelley Robinson.

F PsYchoLogy cAn
eXplaiN tHat
siTuatioN

Rafik just got his first test back in cognitive Attributions are the explanations that we tell
psychology and he isn’t happy. His grade ourselves about why something happened or
is much lower than he expected and the why people act the way they do. Your dad
initial feedback indicates that he isn’t probably called them excuses.
doing well in the course. He wants to
improve so he began to identify things that In this case, Rafik is attempting to make sense
contributed to his poor performance. So of his low grade but these attributions put him
far he’s got the professor’s teaching style, at risk of a self-serving bias. These biases are
the difficulty of the test, and that low pres- well documented and they show that we often
sure system that swept in suddenly last take personal credit for our successes but
week. His elbow gets itchy when it rains blame others for our failures. In other words,
and that can be very distracting. some days you’re a master pancake flipper
and some days your ceilings are too low.

While these attributions may make us feel
better, they won’t help us prepare for that next
test, assignment, or show-off our breakfast
technique.

F PsYchoLogy cAn coNseqUences
eXplaiN tHat
siTuatioN Understanding attributions and the
Attributions are the explanations that we tell self-serving bias are important
Rafik just got his first test back in cognitive ourselves about why something happened or because:
psychology and he isn’t happy. His grade why people act the way they do. Your dad
is much lower than he expected and the probably called them excuses. You may not be honest with yourself
initial feedback indicates that he isn’t about the reasons for your academic
doing well in the course. He wants to In this case, Rafik is attempting to make sense setbacks.
improve so he began to identify things that of his low grade but these attributions put him
contributed to his poor performance. So at risk of a self-serving bias. These biases are Attributing a poor grade to the test itself
far he’s got the professor’s teaching style, well documented and they show that we often or a professor doesn’t acknowledge the
the difficulty of the test, and that low pres- take personal credit for our successes but active role of the learner.
sure system that swept in suddenly last blame others for our failures. In other words,
week. His elbow gets itchy when it rains some days you’re a master pancake flipper Ignoring uncomfortable attributions
and that can be very distracting. and some days your ceilings are too low. (e.g., missing class, procrastinating, not
testing your knowledge before a test) is
While these attributions may make us feel a missed opportunity for growth
better, they won’t help us prepare for that next
test, assignment, or show-off our breakfast The lawn isn’t going to mow itself (or so
technique. says all of our dads)

“ Attributions are explanations

that help us make sense of the events
around us. By avoiding the tendency to
only believe self-serving attributions
we can identify areas for improvement

”and achieve our learning goals.

PsYchoLogy cAn coNseqUences
eXplaiN tHat
Understanding attributions and the
Attributions are the explanations that we tell self-serving bias are important
ourselves about why something happened or because:
why people act the way they do. Your dad
probably called them excuses. You may not be honest with yourself
about the reasons for your academic
In this case, Rafik is attempting to make sense setbacks.
of his low grade but these attributions put him
at risk of a self-serving bias. These biases are Attributing a poor grade to the test itself
well documented and they show that we often or a professor doesn’t acknowledge the
take personal credit for our successes but active role of the learner.
blame others for our failures. In other words,
some days you’re a master pancake flipper Ignoring uncomfortable attributions
and some days your ceilings are too low. (e.g., missing class, procrastinating, not
testing your knowledge before a test) is
While these attributions may make us feel a missed opportunity for growth
better, they won’t help us prepare for that next
test, assignment, or show-off our breakfast The lawn isn’t going to mow itself (or so
technique. says all of our dads)

“ Attributions are explanations

that help us make sense of the events
around us. By avoiding the tendency to
only believe self-serving attributions
we can identify areas for improvement

”and achieve our learning goals.

AcadeMic AdjusTment sTaY connecTed

Now that you know about attributions and I got a
our bias towards those that are self-serving, Bad Grade
you can: Because

Be honest with yourself about the factors
that most likely contributed to the outcome

Consider what you can change going
forward to achieve your desired result

Seek advice from your professor or TA about
areas for improvement and effective learning
strategies

Listen to Michael Jackson’s ‘Man in the
Mirror’ and get it. I mean REALLY get it.

To access other Psychtools Psychtools
for School resources please
visit: http://tinyurl.com/hbw7zff for school

This project was supported
by the APS Fund for Teaching
and Public Understanding of
Psychological Science.

Project Creators: Attributions
Dr. April McGrath,
Dr. Amanda Clark,
Dr. Kelley Robinson.

AcadeMic AdjusTment sTaY connecTed Psychtools

Now that you know about attributions and I got a for school
our bias towards those that are self-serving, Bad Grade
you can: Because A
??
Be honest with yourself about the factors B
that most likely contributed to the outcome

Consider what you can change going
forward to achieve your desired result

Seek advice from your professor or TA about
areas for improvement and effective learning
strategies

Listen to Michael Jackson’s ‘Man in the
Mirror’ and get it. I mean REALLY get it.

To access other Psychtools Psychtools F
for School resources please
visit: http://tinyurl.com/hbw7zff for school Attributions

This project was supported
by the APS Fund for Teaching
and Public Understanding of
Psychological Science.

Project Creators: Attributions
Dr. April McGrath,
Dr. Amanda Clark,
Dr. Kelley Robinson.