A Perceptual View of Attribution

In contrast to the prevailing cognitive emphasis, a perceptual view of attribution is proposed. This view maintains that attributions are often perceptually' based and endorses a paradigm in which subjects observe dynamic events directly. Three illustrative applications are reviewed-individual differences in attributions, the behavioral cues on which attributions are based, and the development of attribution processes. The heuristic advantages of this alternative view of attribution are discussed.