The norm of internality in the explanation of psychological events

Abstract

Abstract The norm of internality is defined as a social valorization of explanations of behaviours (attribution) and outcomes (locus of control) which emphazise the causal ro̊le of the actor. It is shown in this paper: (1) that internal explanations are linked to self‐presentation strategies; (2) that internal explanations are more often selected by middle‐class subjects; (3) that these explanations are learned by children and by adults in psycho‐socio‐educational settings. Finally, the norm of internality is assumed to be linked to social practices (evaluation practices).