Which term best describes explanations that attribute behavior to internal traits such as talent or personality?

• A. External
• B. Internal
• C. Attributions
• D. Stereotyping

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how we explain why someone acts the way they do by looking at the source of the cause. Explanations that point to internal traits like talent, ability, or personality are internal attributions. They attribute the behavior to characteristics inside the person rather than to the situation or environment.

This fits best because the focus is on the actor’s own makeup as the driver of the action, which is what internal attributions capture. External attributions would credit factors outside the person, such as luck, other people, or the surroundings. The broader term attributions is too general, since it could refer to either internal or external explanations. Stereotyping involves applying beliefs about groups to individuals rather than explaining a specific behavior in terms of an individual’s traits, so it isn’t the right fit here.