Question

Enzo always tells his parents he comes home late because he has a night class. One night, his father saw him driving away from the club, rather than from campus. Which factors of correspondent inference theory will be used by each parent to infer Enzo's behaviour?

Answer 1

Enzo's parents will use factors such as choice, expectancy, and effects from the correspondent inference theory to interpret his actions of being at the club rather than at a night class. Their interpretations will depend on their observations and existing beliefs about Enzo's behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

Correspondent inference theory is used to explain how observers try to infer an individual's dispositional characteristics based on observed behavior, particularly when there are unexpected actions involved. In the scenario with Enzo, his parents might use several factors of correspondent inference theory to infer his behavior:

• Choice: Parents may consider whether Enzo's presence at the club was a personal choice or a response to a situational demand.
• Expectancy: They will assess if his behavior was expected or unexpected within the societal context and his usual patterns of behavior.
• Effects: The consequences of Enzo's actions could be evaluated, such as why he would prefer the club over a night class, and what he gains or loses by this choice.

Each parent may interpret these factors differently based on their prior beliefs and observations about Enzo's behavior. For example, one parent might see it as a character flaw or deception, while another may rationalize it as a one-time occurrence or a misunderstanding.