Which term describes the tendency to explain behavior as caused by external circumstances rather than by the person?

• A. Internal
• B. Dispositional
• C. External
• D. Stable

Answer: (C)

This topic is about attribution style, specifically whether we see a behavior as stemming from the situation or from the person. When you describe someone’s action as caused by external circumstances—outside the person’s control or the surrounding environment—you’re making an external attribution. That contrasts with internal or dispositional explanations, which attribute behavior to the person’s character or traits. The term external captures the idea that the cause is situational, not inherent to the individual. The word stable would refer to how lasting or consistent the cause is over time, which isn’t what the question is asking. So the tendency described is external attribution.