Final answer:
To determine if a behavior is due to internal or external factors, we analyze distinctiveness, consistency, and consensus of the behavior across various situations and times, as well as compared to others' behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
We use multiple dimensions to judge whether a person's behavior is the result of internal or external factors. These dimensions include distinctiveness, consistency, and consensus. Distinctiveness refers to how the behavior varies from one situation to another. Consistency assesses whether the behavior is the same across time and different situations, showing a stable pattern. Lastly, consensus measures if others behave similarly in the same situation, indicating a shared response.
Understanding these dimensions helps in attributing causes to behaviors accurately. For example, if a person's behavior has high distinctiveness, it may suggest an external attribution, whereas high consistency might indicate an internal attribution. Consensus provides a social dimension to consider, which also affects the internal or external attribution.