Attribution is the process of explaining why something happens—whether it’s our own behaviour or someone else’s. We naturally search for causes, asking: “Was this because of the person, or because of the situation?”
For example, if a student fails an exam, we might attribute it to a lack of effort (an internal cause) or to the test being unusually difficult (an external cause). These explanations shape how we judge others and ourselves.
Attribution is central to social psychology because it influences the allocation of blame, praise, and empathy. Misattributions—such as assuming someone is rude when they are actually just stressed—can lead to misunderstandings or conflicts.