Actors and observers attributions, self-serving bias and positivity bias

Investigated the influence of evaluative factors on preference for situational and dispositional attributions. 100 pupils listened to a tape recording of a group discussion on smoking, with 2 actors presenting arguments in favor of smoking and 2 actors arguing against smoking. Ss were then asked to explain in attributional terms the actors' behavior and their own smoking behavior; their evaluation of smoking was separately assessed. Results provide no support for a general self^other attributional difference; Ss did not explain their own behavior in more situational terms while explaining the behavior of others in more dispositional terms. Findings indicate that Ss generally attributed positively evaluated behavior to dispositional factors and negatively evaluated behavior to situational factors, regardless of attributor role (actor or observer). Results support a positivity bias in attributional preference.