Which term describes explanations for events or behaviors and our interpretation of why they occurred?

• A. Positive illustration
• B. Attributions
• C. Confirmation Bias
• D. Stereotyping

Answer: (B)

Attributions are the explanations we create for why something happened or why someone acted a certain way, and they shape how we interpret events. For example, if a teammate cancels a meeting, we might think they’re unreliable (an internal attribution) or that they were overwhelmed with other responsibilities (a situational attribution). These explanations influence our expectations and interactions going forward.

The other terms don’t fit this idea. Confirmation bias is about favoring information that confirms what we already believe, not about the explanations we generate for events. Stereotyping involves applying broad beliefs about a group to individuals, rather than explaining a specific event or behavior. Positive illustration isn’t a standard term used to describe explanations for events.