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Attribution versus persuasion as a means for modifying behavior.

R L Miller, P Brickman, D Bolen

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

|March 1, 1975

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Attribution strategies are more effective than persuasion for behavior change in children. Repeatedly telling children they possess positive traits, like being neat or having math ability, significantly improved their behavior.

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Area of Science:

Social Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Educational Psychology

Background:

Behavioral change interventions often employ persuasion or attribution strategies.
Understanding the differential effectiveness of these strategies is crucial for designing effective educational and social programs.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare the effectiveness of attribution strategies versus persuasion strategies in modifying children's behavior.
To investigate the impact of attributing positive traits (neatness, math ability, motivation) on behavior and academic performance.

Main Methods:

Study 1: Fifth graders were assigned to an attribution group (told they were neat), a persuasion group (told to be neat), or a control group.
Study 2: Second graders were assigned to groups receiving attributions of ability or motivation for math, persuasion, reinforcement, or control.

Main Results:

Attribution strategies significantly improved behavior (littering, cleanup) in Study 1.
Attributing math ability or motivation was more effective than persuasion or no treatment in Study 2, with reinforcement also showing positive results.

Conclusions:

Attribution strategies appear more effective than persuasion for behavior modification in children.
Attribution strategies may succeed by masking persuasive intent, whereas persuasion can fail due to negative attributions.