From Actions to Impressions: Cognitive Attribution Theory and the Formation of Corporate Reputation

Title
From Actions to Impressions: Cognitive Attribution Theory and the Formation of Corporate Reputation
Publication Date
2004
Author(s)
Sjovall, Andrea M
Talk, Andrew
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3449-5756
Email: atalk@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:atalk
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Palgrave Macmillan Ltd
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1057/palgrave.crr.1540225
UNE publication id
une:3110
Abstract
Psychologists have long studied how people form impressions about others based on observed behavior, a principal suggestion being that behavior can be attributed either to the internal disposition of the observed person, or to factors of the external situation that constrain possible actions. This paper reviews cognitive processes that influence such attributions and discusses their applicability to the formation of impressions about corporations based on corporate behavior. Managers can more effectively use public service initiatives to enhance the reputations of their corporations if the initiatives are conducted in a manner that invites observers to attribute them to the disposition of the corporation rather than to situational constraints.
Link
Citation
Corporate Reputation Review, 7(3), p. 269-281
ISSN
1363-3589
Start page
269
End page
281

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