Extrapunitive Attributions

Abstract

What holds true in areas covered by attribution theory might also hold true in a noncognitive domain in which external factors are also distinguished from internal factors. Thus, extrapunitive attribution might depend on high distinctiveness and high consensus. In this factorial experiment in which 315 South African students were divided into four treatment groups, it depended on low distinctiveness but not on consensus. Here, however, distinctiveness was made an attribute of the actor. Being a group member diffused responsibility and facilitated extrapunitive attribution.