Final answer:
When several students besides Moira arrive late, it suggests an external cause for their lateness, affecting the attribution made by others. Attribution theory explains that behavior is linked to internal or external causes, and the presence of others being late shifts the attribution to external factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Attribution in Social Contexts-
When several students arrive late for class on Monday, not just Moira, it influences the attribution others might make for her tardiness. Attribution theory suggests that people attribute behavior to either external or internal causes. If Moira is the only one late, classmates or teachers might think her lateness is due to personal characteristics - maybe she's not organized or she doesn't care about punctuality (internal attribution). However, when several students are late, people are more likely to attribute the lateness to external factors, such as a bus delay or bad weather (external attribution).
Context and pattern recognition play significant roles in how attribution is assigned. For instance, if Moira is usually punctual and this is a one-time event, her late arrival alongside others might solidify the belief in an external cause. Conversely, if she is often late, even the collective tardiness might not change the internal attribution of her behavior. It's important for us to consider the situational factors that may be influencing someone's actions before jumping to conclusions about their character or habits.
Examples from the provided information show various scenarios where attributions about a student's behavior might be formed. For example, seeing a coworker get reprimanded for tardiness can lead to changing one's behavior to avoid the same outcome (a learned response), while new attendance rules emphasize the importance of punctuality and the consequences of absenteeism. The example of a teacher making a shocking announcement and observing the class reaction is a dramatic illustration of context influencing student behavior and subsequent attribution.