Testing Judgments about Attribution-Emotion-Action Linkages: A Lifespan Approach

Two studies are reported that examined attribution-emotion-action linkages across the lifespan. Specifically, two sets of relations were examined: (1) that between causal controllability, the social emotions of anger and pity, and intended helping behavior; and (2) that between causal locus, the achievement-related emotion of pride, and intended self reward. In Experiment 1, participants ranging in age from 5 to 95 years were given a set of vignettes concerning a person in need of help with the cause of that need manipulated to be either controllable or uncontrollable. Perceptions of controllability, emotional reactions of anger and pity, and likelihood of help were ascertained. In Experiment 2, subjects comprising the same age groups were given a set of scenarios describing an achievement success with the cause of that success manipulated to be either internal or external. Perceptions of causal locus, emotional reactions of pride, and intended reward allocation were similarly measured. The linkages involving anger and pity were understood by all age groups from 5 to 95 and were in accord with attributional predictions. In contrast, the data for pride were more complex, showing clear change across the lifespan. Among very young children and the elderly, causal locus, pride, and reward allocation were not systematically interrelated. The implications of these findings for testing the generality of social psychological principles were discussed.