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Actors, Observers, and Attributions for Third World Poverty: Contrasting Perspectives from Malawi and Australia

Carr, Stuart C. and Maclachlan, Malcolm (1998). Actors, Observers, and Attributions for Third World Poverty: Contrasting Perspectives from Malawi and Australia. Journal of Social Psychology,138(2):189-202.

Document type: Journal Article
Citation counts: Scopus Citation Count Cited 34 times in Scopus Article | Citations

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Title Actors, Observers, and Attributions for Third World Poverty: Contrasting Perspectives from Malawi and Australia
Author Carr, Stuart C.
Maclachlan, Malcolm
Journal Name Journal of Social Psychology
Publication Date 1998
Volume Number 138
Issue Number 2
ISSN 0022-4545   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-0032363392
Start Page 189
End Page 202
Total Pages 14
Place of Publication United States of America
Publisher Psychology Press
Field of Research 380105 Social and Community Psychology
Abstract “Actors” and “observers” attributions for Third World poverty were assessed. Dispositional attributions were expected to be linked to the withholding of personal donations to overseas aid. A combined total of 582 undergraduates from the University of Malawi (n = 251) and the University of Newcastle in Australia (n = 331) completed the Causes of Third World Poverty Questionnaire, which measures one dispositional factor (Blame the Poor) and three situational factors (Nature, National Governments, and International Exploitation). Strong advocates of donation behavior made the least dispositional attributions, but Malawians blamed dispositions more than did Australians, who blamed situations more than did Malawians. This reversed observer-actor bias underscores the critical influence of community context over societal culture and indicates that social cognition may be relevant to international aid efforts.
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224549809600370   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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Created: Fri, 29 Aug 2014, 20:05:57 CST by Anthony Hornby