Attributions to success and failure after cooperative or competitive interaction

Attribution of success and failure revisited, or: The motivational bias is alive and well in attribution theory

“…This contrasts with the results of studies which have employed the self-other paradigm, particularly when the self and other were competing (Snyder et al, 1976;Stephan et al, 1976) but also when the comparison concerned hypothetical outcomes (Lowe & Hansen, 1976;Taylor & Koivumaki, 1976). Perhaps the difference between the two paradigms may account for the difference in results.…”

“…In the success condition, winners attributed tlieir outcomes more to skill and effort and less to luck than did their losing opponents. Stephan et al (1976) replicated the Snyder et al (1976) study with males and females as both actors and opponents. Except for females playing against males, subjects attributed success more intemally (to ability and effort) than the success of their opponents and they also attributed their failure more extemally (to luck) than the failure of their opponents.…”

Attributions for success and failure after cooperation, competition, or team competition

“…These data are inconsistent with other studies showing selfserving attributions after competition (Stephan er al., 1977;Stephan et al, 1978;Snyder et al, 1976;Wolosin et al, 1973;Streufert and Streufert, 1969). One factor which distinguishes the competitive setting in this study from these other studies is the face-to-face contact between subject and partner during the task'.…”

“…While attributions of subjects in the cooperation and team competition conditions were consistent with the self-serving pattern of attributions reported by other investigators, competing subjects did not make differentia1 attributions to success and failure for their own outcome. These data are inconsistent with other studies showing selfserving attributions after competition (Stephan er al., 1977;Stephan et al, 1978;Snyder et al, 1976;Wolosin et al, 1973;Streufert and Streufert, 1969). One factor which distinguishes the competitive setting in this study from these other studies is the face-to-face contact between subject and partner during the task'.…”

“…the subjects performed the task separately and so had no real contact with each other. In the Stephan et al (1978) study, the confederate remained somewhat aloof from the subject. investigations of self-serving attributions should consider not only patterns of success and failure but also the dynamics of the individuals's interaction.…”