The moderating effects of cognitive appraisal processes on self-attribution of responsibility

Research indicates that self-attribution of responsibility for various type s of problems is affected by a number of variables, including number of bys tanders, persuasive communications, and focus of attention. The present stu dy was designed to test the hypothesis that attributions of responsibility are also influenced by cognitive appraisal of sufficiency of resources rela tive to the magnitude of the problem in question. When circumstances indica te that self is the most plausible locus of responsibility, attribution to self will occur only if the person also assesses his or her resources as be ing sufficient to fulfill the obligations implied upon locating responsibil ity for problem solution in self. The converse is also held to be true. Res ults confirmed this hypothesis. Implications of this theoretical approach f or various theories that include attribution of responsibility to self as a critical factor are discussed.