Integrating Social and Personal Theories of Achievement Striving

Abstract

Empirical research clearly documents that attributions of failure to lack of ability result in less punishment from others than do ascriptions to lack of effort. In addition, personal attributions of failure to lack of ability result in worse subsequent performance than do ascriptions to an absence of effort. This paper provides a conceptual analysis of these empirical findings. The interpretation is guided by a taxonomy of causal thinking and by presuming that emotions mediate between causal thinking and action. In addition, a distinction is drawn between a process versus a functional understanding of achievement strivings.

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