reattribution

Reattribution is the process of changing the perceived cause of an event from one attribution to another. In psychology, it most often refers to attribution retraining, a cognitive-behavioral technique used to modify maladaptive attributional styles that contribute distress, such as depression or anxiety. The goal is to shift explanations from internal, global, and stable attributions to external, specific, and unstable ones. For example, blaming a poor exam result on one’s inherent inability (internal, global, stable) is reframed as a temporary setback influenced by external factors, with a plan to improve.

Historically, reattribution builds on attribution theory, formulated by Fritz Heider, and expanded by Abramson, Seligman, and Teasdale in the study of learned helplessness and depressive cognition. In therapy, it involves psychoeducation about cognitive distortions, collaborative reanalysis of events, and practice generating alternative explanations and coping strategies.

Beyond clinical settings, the term can describe any deliberate reassessment of causation or responsibility, though such usage is more generalized and less standardized.

Limitations include the possibility of minimizing legitimate blame or systemic factors, and variable efficacy depending on individual context. Ethical practice requires sensitivity to trauma, cultural factors, and the reliability of alternative explanations. The concept remains a core element of cognitive-behavioral approaches aimed at reducing self-blame and increasing perceived control.