Attributional Tendencies in Cultures

May 29, 2021 ---TESOL 103 --- Week 6 ---Lynnette Brady

Attributional Tendencies in Cultures

"There isn't enough blame to go around, there's only enough for you!"

 "So, if it tastes good, it is the recipe...and if it tastes bad, it's me?!"
     The BLAME-GAME  would be the name and description I would put on this habit.  All cultures use this to some degree, and many times they are similar,  other times they are in exact opposition.  Attributional Tendencies are the inferences that people make about the causes of events and behavior.  They try to answer the question"why" to be able to understand experiences.  An example would be to attribute children's failures to the parents' abilities.  It is usually guessing about the cause, and guessing is just that--a guess.  Many times it is irrational--and many times it is detrimental to mental and emotional health.

    There are internal and external attributions.  For example, if you are successful, you are smart--is an internal attribution.  If you are a failure it is because the judges were biased, is an external attribution.  Many times we do not attribute our own behaviors the same as we attribute others' behaviors.  Perhaps this is why the Savior told us not to judge others:  we might not be capable of unbiased judgement.

   To attribute one's success to his up-bringing might show humility, but it might also excuse failure.  My mother used to tell me I did not need to know "why" about everything.  (I always asked "why" as a child!)
She would teach me that some things are better to just be accepted as they are, and to go on from there.  

   Personally I like to attribute the best motives and attributes to everyone because it makes for much kinder viewpoints.  I would like to encourage this form of attribution in my classroom despite cultural differences, because I want to have a culture of kindness.  And as my mother taught, many times the "why" just doesn't matter.
    

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