According to Bernard Weiner's attribution theory, which attribution would Sonia make about Trina's success?

According to Bernard Weiner's attribution theory, which attribution would Sonia make about Trina's success?

• A. She would acknowledge that her sister is successful because of her own effort and innate talent
• B. She would argue that Trina is only succeeding in order to make her look bad
• C. She would insist that Trina's success is only due to external factors like luck
• D. She would deny that Trina is more successful academically and socially than she is

Answer: (C)

Weiner’s attribution theory looks at how people explain why something happened, using dimensions like whether the cause is internal or external and whether it’s stable or unstable. If Sonia attributes Trina’s success to external factors like luck, she’s saying the reason for the success lies outside Trina and isn’t under her control. That aligns with the external locus of causality, which is a common way to explain someone else’s achievements without crediting their own abilities or effort. attributing to internal effort or talent would place the cause inside Trina and attribute it to her own abilities, which isn’t what this option says. Options that imply motives or denial don’t fit the standard attribution pattern Weiner describes for explaining success. So explaining Trina’s success as due to luck captures the external, uncontrollable factor that Weiner’s theory highlights.

Weiner’s attribution theory looks at how people explain why something happened, using dimensions like whether the cause is internal or external and whether it’s stable or unstable. If Sonia attributes Trina’s success to external factors like luck, she’s saying the reason for the success lies outside Trina and isn’t under her control. That aligns with the external locus of causality, which is a common way to explain someone else’s achievements without crediting their own abilities or effort.

attributing to internal effort or talent would place the cause inside Trina and attribute it to her own abilities, which isn’t what this option says. Options that imply motives or denial don’t fit the standard attribution pattern Weiner describes for explaining success. So explaining Trina’s success as due to luck captures the external, uncontrollable factor that Weiner’s theory highlights.