“I won the lottery because I’m lucky” is an example of external attribution.

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Answer: The statement “I won the lottery because I’m lucky” is indeed an example of an external attribution. External attribution, also known as situational attribution occurs when an individual ascribes the outcomes of an event to factors outside of their personal control. In this case, the person is attributing winning the lottery to luck, which is a factor that is beyond their influence, rather than their own actions or abilities.

Extra: Attributions are the explanations that we make about the causes of behavior or events. In psychology, attribution theory explores how individuals interpret events and how this relates to their thinking and behavior. Attributions can be broadly classified into two categories: internal attribution and external attribution.

1. Internal Attribution: This occurs when an individual attributes the outcome of an event to internal or personal factors, such as their own effort, ability, or personality. For example, if a student receives a high score on a test and believes it was due to their hard work and intelligence, this is an internal attribution.

2. External Attribution: Contrary to internal attribution, this happens when individuals believe that outside forces are responsible for the outcome of an event. This can include luck other people's actions the difficulty of a task, or environmental conditions. For example, if that same student received a low score on the test and thought it was because the test was unfairly difficult, this is an external attribution.

The attributional style can significantly affect motivation, emotion, and behavior. For instance, a person who frequently makes internal attributions for their successes may have higher self esteem, while someone who consistently attributes their successes to external factors may not develop confidence in their abilities. Understanding attribution can be helpful in various fields, including education, therapy, and personal development, because it can influence how people respond to successes and failures in their lives.

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