Attribution Theory Applied to Helping Behaviour Towards People with Intellectual Disabilities Who Challenge

Willner, Paul; Smith, Mark

doi:10.1111/j.1468-3148.2007.00390.x

Cited by 44 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(137 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Although there was a highly significant difference in attributions of control when low levels of physical aggression were present, as opposed to absent, at higher frequencies this difference was not as marked. One possible explanation for this is that for high frequency behaviours attribution theory may not be applicable as staff can habituate to them (Willner & Smith 2008). It could be speculated that staff would therefore attribute such habitual behaviours as being less under individual control.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Relating to Staff Attributions of Control Over Challenging Behaviour

Dilworth

Phillips

Rose

2010

Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Previous research has suggested that severity of intellectual disability (ID) and topography of behaviour may influence staff causal attributions regarding challenging behaviour. Subsequently, these causal attributions may influence helping behaviours. This study investigated the relationship between attributions of control over challenging behaviour and individual and organizational factors. Methods A cross-sectional survey using a between-subjects natural groups design was employed. Care staff and managers completed measures to examine the relationship between staff attributions of control over challenging behaviour and client-related variables, staff-related variables and functioning of the organization.Results Staff attributed challenging behaviour as being less under personal control if the organization was of better quality. Staff attributions of control over challenging behaviours were lower if staff displayed positive attitudes towards the client, the physical and social environment was appropriate and the overall approach to delivering care seemed well-structured. There was no relationship between staff attributions of control and ability of the individual or the overall level of challenging behaviour. However, with respect to specific topographies (i.e. physically aggressive and self-injurious behaviour) there were different profiles of causal attributions made. Discussion Organizational factors, staff behaviour and the topography of challenging behaviour can each influence the attributions of control that staff make. Any interventions that seek to increase the helping behaviour of staff through manipulation of the attributions that they make need to consider both individual factors (topography of behaviour) and environmental factors (staff behaviour and the quality of the service and organization).

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Relating to Staff Attributions of Control Over Challenging Behaviour

Dilworth

Phillips

Rose

2010

Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Other researchers (Lucas et al 2009;Willner and Smith 2008) have suggested that the discrepancy between theory and praxis found in their research might be because attribution theory has largely been grounded on vignette data rather than observations of real-life interactions. However, vignette methodology has been shown to be suited for investigating the cultural context in which mental disorders and other stigmatized conditions of being are experienced (Pescosolido et al 2008;Coleman et al 2009).…”

Section: Study Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Factors Associated with Attributions About Child Health Conditions and Social Distance Preference

Mukolo

Heflinger

2010

Community Ment Health J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In order to better understand factors that account for the emergence and persistence of negative attitudes towards mental health problems, attributions about and stigma towards children's mental and physical illnesses were examined using National Stigma Study-Children data. Parent blame attributions were most strongly associated with attention deficit disorder, environmental causes with depression, and biology with asthma. Parent blame was more frequent for mental than physical health conditions. Child blame was associated with higher preferred social distance from the child, but no clear links were observed between social distance and attributions about genetic/biology, environment, or parent blame. Rurality was not significantly associated with attributions or social distance preference. Higher educational achievement was associated with increased endorsement of environmental stress factors and reduced odds of child blaming. The general public holds complex explanatory models of and nuanced responses to children's mental disorders that need further investigation, including effects on parents' and children's help-seeking.

show abstract

“…Weiner (1986) proposed that helping behaviour was more likely to occur when the stability of the behaviour was deemed to be low, therefore increasing optimism for change and when controllability of the behaviour by the individual was also deemed to be low, resulting in higher levels of sympathy and low levels of anger. Weiner's model has been challenged methodologically and considered to be only of relevance to low-frequency behaviours (Willner and Smith, 2008). It therefore may not be the best model to apply in child and family social work settings given social workers' tendency to habituate to displays of violence due to its high frequency (Virkki, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%