Summary of the article

"Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Theories of Motivation from an Attributional Perspective"

In this article the author discusses two related attribution theories of motivation. First I will summarize the intrapersonal motivation from an attributional perspective. Intrapersonal motivation is how a person tries to understand themselves and their environment around them. For example, if a student fails a test a process of figuring out why the student failed begins. The student ask them self such questions like "why did I fail?" The student is trying to figure out if the failure is their fault. Attributes are internal or external factors that affect the success or failure of a student such as luck, effort, ability, task difficulty, mood, or help or hindrance from others. There are three underlying causal properties that are involved. These causal properties are locus, stability, and controllability. Locus refers to the location of a cause, which is either internal or external. Stability refers to the duration of the cause. Controllability refers to the number of outcomes.

Attribution Theory

	Internal	External
Unstable	Effort	Luck
Stable	Ability	Difficulty

Locus and controllability relate to the feeling states, or the value of achievement outcomes. Locus influences the students' feelings of pride in accomplishment and self-esteem. If the student receives a good grade pride and increased self-esteem are internal outcomes. This can be different if the teacher only gives high grades the students' pride and self-esteem will not be altered. Attributional framework offers a network of conceptually related constructs, tied to one another as well as the external environment.

Interpersonal motivation studies how the external factors influence a student's motivation. Success and failure is greatly affected by a social environment that includes: peers, teachers and parents who experience happiness and sadness given the performance of others, who express anger and sympathy, and who reward, punish, help, or neglect. When achievement failure is due to controllable interpersonal causes, the reaction is anger because the individual is responsible for the outcome. On the other hand, if the achievement failure is due to uncontrollable interpersonal causes, the reaction is sympathy because the individual is not responsible for the failure. As in the intrapersonal theory of motivation, a thinking-feeling-acting motivational sequence is posited.

The attributional approach can address expectancy of success and affects such as pride, guilt, shame, and self-esteem. The theory also allows for predictions about success and failure to be made. The attribution theory is to help students and teachers be able to explain why failure or success occurs.

Summary #2:

Weiner describes two motivational theories from the attribution perspective. The theories examined are the intrapersonal theory and the interpersonal theory. Each theory has their own distinct characteristics but both are related.

Intrapersonal Theory

The intrapersonal theory is comprised of self-directed thoughts and feelings. This theory is based on the assumption that people are always trying to understand themselves. Based on our knowledge, we act in certain ways. The answers people state in reaction to the "why?" question is based upon past history of success or failure, social norms, rules about the relations between causes, and so on.

The properties of locus, stability, and controllability are also described under this theory. The locus is the location of the cause, stability is the duration of the cause, and controllability is the degree to which something can be willingly changed.

Expectancy and value are the two determinants of motivation. Expectancy refers to the likelihood of future success. Value is the emotional consequence one receives when a goal is either attained or not attained.

The description of this theory incorporates examples of each property and determinant as well as examples of what happens when these factors work in conjunction with one another.

Interpersonal Theory

Other-directed thoughts and feelings comprise the interpersonal theory. Reactions to the performance of others are included within this theory. A metaphor is made to demonstrate the implications of this theory. In all situations, the observer is the judge of the actions. This observer will determine whether the others are innocent or guilty and will follow this decision with a "sentence" based on these beliefs.

Interrelations of the Theories

Weiner mentions the interrelationship between the two theories described. The theories interact to influence the beliefs, thoughts, and actions of both the observer and the actor.