A person reads in the newspaper that a Black youth has been shot by a White police officer.If no other information is available,attribution theory suggests that
A)a White person will view the shooting as an unnecessary act of violence.
B)both Black and White people will assume that youth gang activity was a problem.
C)a Black person will likely believe the shooting was unnecessary,while a White person will assume the officer acted appropriately.
D)neither a Black nor a White person will make any assumptions about the situation until they have learned more information.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Attribution theory suggests that people are more likely to make attributions based on their own personal experiences and biases. Thus, a Black person who has experienced discrimination or police brutality may be more likely to view the shooting as unnecessary, while a White person who has had positive experiences with law enforcement may be more likely to assume the officer acted appropriately. Without further information, these assumptions are based on personal biases and experiences rather than facts. Option A is too specific and assumes that all White people will view the shooting in the same way. Option B relies on a stereotype and assumes that gang activity was the cause of the shooting. Option D is unlikely, as people tend to make assumptions based on their prior experiences and biases even in the absence of information.

A Person Reads in the Newspaper That a Black Youth