Nisbett, et al., (1973) presented evidence that male actors use more situational than dispositional explanations for their own behavior and use more dispositional than situational attributions for their best friend. The present study replicated this finding for male actors (n = 41), and demonstrates that female actors (n = 41) produce the same pattern. A close examination of this data and Nisbett, et al.'s shows, however, that a different interpretation of the data is possible for a familiar other. Dispositional attributions are made equally to the self and to the best friend. Situational attributions are made primarily to the self.
References
1.
JonesE. E.NisbettR. E.The actor and the observer: Divergent perceptions of the causes of behavior. In JonesE. E.KanouseD. E.KelleyH. H.NisbettR. E.ValinsS.WeinerB. (Eds.), Attributions: Perceiving the causes of behavior. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1972. Pp. 79–94.
LayC.ZieglerM.HershfieldL.MillerD.The perception of situational consistency in behavior: Assessing the actor-observer bias. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Rev. Canad. Sci. Comp., 1974, 6, 376–384.
4.
McArthurL. Z.The how and what of why: Some determinants and consequences of causal attribution. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972, 22, 171–193.
5.
MonsonT. C.SnyderM.Actors, observers, and the attribution process. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1977, 13, 89–111.
6.
NisbettR. E.CaputoC.LegantP.MarecekJ.Behavior as seen by the actor and as seen by the observer. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1973, 27, 154–164.
7.
SolanoC. H.The variable self and the constant other?: Familiarity, sex and dispositional attributions. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Johns Hopkins Univer., 1977.
8.
TaylorS. E.KoivumakiJ. H.The perception of self and others: Acquaintanceship, affect, and actor-observer differences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1976, 33, 403–408.
