Effects of Outcome Valence and Severity on Attribution of Responsibility

Abstract

The effects of severity (mild vs severe) and outcome (positive vs negative) on attributions of responsibility for equally probable events were investigated. In line with predictions derived from attribution theory, severity of outcome was found to influence attributions of responsibility. This influence was most pronounced for negative outcomes. Attributions of effort, a central component of personal causation, increased as the severity of positive outcomes increased and decreased as the severity of negative outcomes increased. Furthermore, evaluations of both actors' effort and ability were greater when they received positive than when they received negative consequences. These results support a cognitive rather than a motivational, e.g., self-defensive or self-enhancing, interpretation of attribution of responsibility. Finally, the meaningfulness of measures traditionally employed to assess attribution of responsibility, especially with regard to positive outcomes, was discussed