Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Problem of Attribution and Cognitive Therapy

  • Chapter
Foundations of Cognitive Therapy

Abstract

The following chapter, which presents an introduction to the research on attribution and its clinical relevance, is divided into three main sections. In the first part, the classical theories of attribution by Heider (1958) — to whom the theory of attribution is often attributed—Jones and Davis (1965), and Kelley (1967) will be presented with regard to its sphere of application in therapy. In the second part, those aspects of the classical theories will be described towards which the interest of recent research has been directed, whereby those aspects in particular which seem relevant for a therapeutic process will be emphasized, such as certain forms of cognitive processes of judgment, aspects of verbal usage, and emotional disorders. In the third and final section, investigations which have become part of the clinical experimental literature under the heading “attribution therapy,” will be specifically presented in detail.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abelson, R. P., & Kanouse, D. E. Subjective acceptance of verbal generalization. In S. Feldman (Ed.), Cognitive consistency. New York: Academic, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asch, S. Forming impressions of personality. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1946, 41, 258–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ax, A. F. Review of Neurophysiology Discovers the Mind. Contemporary Psychology, 1971, 16, 365– 367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunswik, E. Wahrnehmung und Gegenstandswelt. Wien: Deuticke, 1934.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, R., Meyer-Osterkamp, S., Grusche, A. Eine Untersuchung zum Einflumanipulierter Rückmeldung auf Angst-Reaktionen. Zeitschrift für Klinische Psychologie, 1974, 3, 143–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cronbach, L. J. Processes affecting scores on “understanding of others” and “assumed similarity. ” Psychological Bulletin, 1955, 177–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davison, G. C., & Valins, S. Maintenance of self-attributed and drug-attributed behavior change. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1969, 11, 25–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davison, G. C., Tsujimoto, R. N., & Glaros, A. G. Attribution and the maintenance of behavior change in falling asleep. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1973, 82, 124–133.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dörner, D. Problemlösen als Informationsverarbeitung. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B. Attribution theory and judgment under uncertainty. In J. H. Harvey, W. J. Ickes, & R. F. Kidd (Eds.), New directions in attribution research (Vol. I). New York: Halsted, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goffman, E. The presentation of self in every day life. Garden City, N. Y.: Doubleday, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, V. A., & Katkin, E. S. Primary and secondary emotional behavior. Psychological Bulletin, 1975, 82, 904–916.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hastorf, A. H., Schneider, D. J., & Polefka, J. Person perception. Menlo Park, Cal.: Addison-Wesley, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heider, F. The psychology of interpersonal relations. New York: Wiley, 1958.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Heider, F., & Simmel, M. An experimental study of apparent behavior. American Journal of Psychology, 1944, 57, 243–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, E. E. The rocky road from acts to dispositions. American Psychologist, 1979, 34, 107–117.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, E. E., & Davis, K. E. From acts to dispositions: The attribution process in person perception. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 2 ). New York: Academic, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, E. E., & Goethals, G. R. Order effects in impression information: Attribution context and the nature of the entity. In E. E. Jones, D. E. Kanouse, H. H. Kelley, R. E. Nisbett, S. Valins, & B. Weiner, Attribution: Perceiving the causes of behavior. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, E. E., & Nisbett, R. E. The actor and the observer: Divergent perceptions of the causes of behavior. In E. E. Jones, D. E. Kanouse, H. H. Kelley, R. E. Nisbett, S. Valins, & B. Weiner (Eds.), Attribution: Perceiving the causes of behavior. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanouse, D. E. Language, labeling, and attribution. In E. E. Jones, D. E. Kanouse, H. H. Kelley, R. E. Nisbett, S. Valins, & B. Weiner (Eds.), Attribution: Perceiving the causes of behavior. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanouse, D. E., & Hanson, L. R., Jr. Negativity in evaluations. In E. E. Jones, D. E. Kanouse, H. H. Kelley, R. E. Nisbett, S. Valins, & B. Weiner (Eds.), Attribution: Perceiving the causes of behavior. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, H. H. Attribution theory in social psychology. In D. Levine (Ed.), Nebraska symposium on motivation (Vol. 15 ). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, H. H. Attribution in social interaction. In E. E. Jones, D. E. Kanouse, H. H. Kelley, R. E. Nisbett, S. Valins, & B. Weiner (Eds.), Attribution: Perceiving the causes of behavior. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, H. H. The processes of causal attribution. American Psychologist, 1973, 28, 107–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, G. A. The psychology of personal constructs (Vols. 1 & 2 ). New York: Norton, 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kent, R. N., Wilson, G. T., & Nelson, R. Effects of false heart rate feedback on avoidance behavior: An investigation of “Cognitive Desensitization.” Behavior Therapy, 1972, 3, 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • König, F. Die Verbesserung der Probleml00F6sefahigkeit durch gesprächspsychotherapeutische Reduktion internal motivierter Konflikte. In Klientenzentrierte Psychotherapie heute: Bericht iiber den 1. Europaischen Kongre fur Gesprachstherapie, Wiirzburg 1974. Gottingen: Hogrefe, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang, P. J. Die Anwendung psychophysiologischer Methoden. In N. Birbaumer (Ed.), Neuropsychologic der Angst. Mtinchen: Urban & Schwarzenberg, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latane, B., & Schachter, S. Adrenalin and avoidance learning. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1962, 55, 369–372.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laucken, U. Naive Verhaltenstheorie. Stuttgart: Klett, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S. Is there a mechanism of perceptual defense? A reply to Postman, Bronson and Grapper. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1954, 49, 396–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S. Emotions and adaptation: Conceptual and empirical relations. In W. J. Arnold (Ed.), Nebraska symposium on motivation. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liebhart. E. H. Attributionstherapie: Beinflussung herzneurotischer Beschwerden durch Externalisierung kausaler Zuschreibungen. Zeitschrift fur Klinische Psychologie, 1974, 3, 71–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liebhart, E. H. Attributionstherapie: Stabilisierung der Besserung herzneurotischer Beschwerden durch Internalisierung kausaler Zuschreibungen. Zeitschrift fur Klinische Psychologie, 1976, 5, 287–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liebhart, E. Wahrgenommene autonome Veränderungen als Determinanten emotionalen Verhaltens. In D. Gorlitz, W.-U. Meyer, & B. Weiner (Eds.), Attribution. Stuttgart: Klett, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandler, G. Mind and emotion. New York: Wiley, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mead, G. H. Mind, self and society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1934.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, G. A., Galanter, E., & Pribram, K. H. Plans and the structure of behavior. New York: Holt, 1960.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mischel, W. Personality and assessment. New York: Wiley, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mischel, W., Ebbesen, E. B., & Zeiss, A. R. Selective attention to the self: Situational and dispositional determinants. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1973, 27, 129–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monroe, L. J. Psychological and physiological differences between good and poor sleepers. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1967, 72, 255–264.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nisbett, R. E., & Schachter, S. Cognitive manipulation of pain. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1966, 2, 227–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nisbett, R. E., & Valins, S. Perceiving the causes of one’s own behavior. In E. E. Jones, D. E. Kanouse, H. H. Kelley, R. E. Nisbett, S. Valins, & B. Weiner (Eds.), Attribution: Perceiving the causes of behavior. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nisbett, R. E., & Wilson, T. D. Telling more than we can know. Psychological Review, 1977, 84, 231–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piaget, J. Die Entwicklung des Erkennens II. Stuttgart: Klett, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plutchik, R., & Ax, A. F. A critique of determinants of emotional state by Schachter and Singer (1962). Psychophysiologyf 1967, 4, 79–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rickels, K., Lipman, R., & Raab, E. Previous medication duration of illness and placebo response. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 1966, 142, 548–554.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, G. M., Rosen, E., & Reid, J. B. Cognitive desensitization and avoidance behavior: A re-evaluation. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1972, 80, 176–182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, L., Rodin, J., & Zimbardo, P. G. Toward an attribution therapy. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1969, 12, 279–288.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryle, G. The concept of mind. London: Hutchinson, 1949.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, S. The psychology of affiliation. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, S., & Singer, J. E. Cognitive, social and physiological determinants of emotional state. Psychological Review, 1962, 69, 379–399.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, S., & Wheeler, L. Epinephrine, chlorpromazine, and amusement. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1962, 65, 121–128.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shaver, K. G.An introduction to attribution processes. Cambridge, Mass.: Winthrop, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, J. E. Sympathetic activation, drugs, and fright. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1963, 56, 612–615.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singer, J. E. Consistency as a Stimulus processing mechanism. In R. P. Abelson, E. Aronson, W. J. McGuire, T. M. Newcomb, M. J. Rosenberg, & P. H. Tannenbaum (Eds.), Theories of cognitive consistency: A sourcebook. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D. (Ed.). Anxiety and behavior. New York: Academic, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Storms, M. D. Videotape and the attribution process: Reversing actors and observers’ points of view. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1973, 27, 165–175.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Storms, M., & Nisbett, R. E. Insomnia and the attribution process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1970, 76, 319–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strong, S. R. Causal attribution in counseling and psychotherapy. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1970, 77, 388–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sushinsky, L. W., & Bootzin, R. R. Cognitive desensitization as a model of systematic desensitization. Behavior Research and Therapy, 1970, 8, 29–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. E., & Fiske, S. T. Point of view and perceptions of causality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1975, 32, 439–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. E., & Fiske, S. T. Salience, attention, and attribution: Top of the head phenomena. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 11 ). New York: Academic, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valins, S. Cognitive effects of false heart rate feedback. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1966, 4, 400–408.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valins, S., & Nisbett, R. E. Attribution processes in the development and treatment of emotional disorder. In E. E. Jones, D. E. Kanouse, H. H. Kelley, R. E. Nisbett, S. Valins, & B. Weiner (Eds.), Attribution: Perceiving the causes of behavior. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valins, S., & Ray, A. A. Effects of cognitive desensitization on avoidance behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1967, 4, 400–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, B. Theories of motivation. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, B., & Sierad, J. Misattribution for failure and the enhancement of achievement rings. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1975, 31, 415–421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, B., Frieze, J., Kukla, A., Reed, L., Rest, S., & Rosenbaum, R. M. Perceiving the causes of success and failure. In E. E. Jones, D. E. Kanouse, H. H. Kelley, R. E. Nesbitt, S. Valins, & B. Weiner, Attribution: Perceiving the causes of behavior. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinstein, J., Averill, J. R., Opton, E. M., & Lazarus, R. S. Defensive style and discrepancy between self-report and physiological indices of stress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1968, 10, 406–413.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wengle, M. E. Die systematische Desensibilisierung. In C. Kraiker (Ed.), Handbuch der Verhaltenstherapie. München: Kindler, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolpe, J. Psychotherapy by reciprocal inhibition. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zillmann, D. Attribution and misattribution of excitatory reactions. In J. H. Harvey, W. Ickes, & R. F. Kidd (Eds.), New directions in attribution research (Vol. 2 ). New York: Wiley, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimbardo, P. G., Cohen, A. R., Weisenberg, M., Dworhin, L., & Firestone, J. Control of pain motivation by cognitive dissonance. Science, 1966, 151, 217–219.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut fur Psychologie, Freie Universitat Berlin, D-l, Berlin, 41, Bundesrepublik Deutschland

    Jürgen Otto

Authors
  1. Jürgen Otto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Nicolas Hoffman

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1984 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Otto, J. (1984). The Problem of Attribution and Cognitive Therapy. In: Hoffman, N. (eds) Foundations of Cognitive Therapy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2641-0_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2641-0_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9648-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2641-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation