| Abstract: | Reviews 15 attributional training studies conducted between 1975 and 1985, describes their general format, and analyzes how they conceptually differ from misattribution approaches. The methods are related to the self-efficacy theory of A. Bandura (1981; also see PA, Vols 58:5733 and 68:5814), the work of M. E. Seligman on learned helplessness (1975; also see record 1976-20159-001), and the attributional analysis of achievement motivation by B. Weiner et al (1971). In the relevant studies, reattributions of failure to lack of effort predominate. A summary of how the Ss were selected for the studies, how the problem areas were defined, and what techniques were used to initiate attributional change is included. As intended, the programs produced changes on the cognitive and behavioral level (i.e., they typically increased the Ss' attributions for failure to lack of effort, and they improved performance and persistence). It is concluded that reattribution training could become an important aspect of cognitive therapies and suggested that its range of convenience can be assessed by applying a variety of attributional changes to a variety of psychological problems. The retraining studies can be used as tests of their competing underlying theoretical concepts. (59 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
