Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Theories of Motivation from an Attributional Perspective

Two related attribution theories of motivation are examined. One, an intra-personal theory, includes self-directed thoughts (particularly expectancy of success) and self-directed emotions (pride, guilt, and shame). The second is an interpersonal theory and includes beliefs about the responsibility of others and other-directed affects of anger and sympathy. These two theories are respectively guided by the disparate metaphors of the person as a scientist and the person as a judge. Some experimental evidence supporting the concep-tions and the range of phenomena that they incorporate are examined. KEY WORDS: attribution; emotion; causal inference; responsibility