Motivational influence of behavioral desirability on actors' and observers' attributions

Jones and Nisbett’s (1971) proposition that actors favor environmental attribution and observers personal attribution was investigated. Participants attributed causality from 2 perspectives (observer versus role-playing actor) for verbally-described behaviors which varied in desirability (low versus moderate versus high). The results suggested that motivational considerations mediated actor-observer attributional differences. While observers attributed more personal cause than did actors at all levels of desirability, this actor-observer difference was attenuated as behavioral desirability increased. Actor-observer differences were not evidenced on environmental attribution, suggesting that perspective differences represent a differential salience of personal causes for actors and observers.