Causes, reasons, and intent: Integrating attribution and social inference

Abstract

The current study investigated whether and which conditions of causation contribute to perceptions of intent. The study used a 2 (locus: internal or external) x 2 (stability: stable or unstable) x 2 (controllability: controllable or noncontrollable) x 2 (performance: success or failure) between-groups design. The independent variables were manipulated by vignettes, which described the causes of a woman's performance at a job. The dependent variables were participants' (N = 308) inferences of the woman's intent to succeed, intent to succeed in the future, probability of future success, Conscientiousness, and Need for Achievement. Performance of a 4-way MANOVA indicated support for 3 of 18 hypotheses. The results suggest which conditions lead to perceptions of behavior as guided by intent, and has implications for perceived causal powers.