Attribution Theory Essay

1. Apply Attribution theory to explain motives.

Attribution theory explains people motives by giving an option of disposition or situation, of which we decipher the motive to a behavior. The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to link behaviors with personal characteristics, therefore if someone is murdered a suspect could be someone who really hates them because it gives them a motive. We can characterize a dispositional situation from a situational and come to a conclusion on why someone had a such behavior, and it helps to find a motive based on that. We can infer a motive from a behavior from things like external and internal attributions, so internal traits and responses to things.

2. Describe the structure and function of different kinds of a group behavior.

Group behaviors consist of things like group polarization which is where a group of of people will be separated from others groups and led in group discussion leading to more extreme views hence the like minded people of the group. Ingroup Bias is a good example due to you thinking that your group is better then any other creating competition and tension because of your personal bias

Conformity explains how one responds to an expectation because you are adjusting your behavior or thinking to compare with a overall group standard, with the fear of being the odd one out. Lastly there is obedience which is where you change your judgements or opinions due to an authority figure telling you to do so, in respect of being out of line and in a need to follow rules and expectations of authority due to