Blaming Uncontrollable Factors

Sometimes when you examine your attributions, you come to believe that uncontrollable factors explain why you do or do not succeed at different academic tasks.

• Crediting or blaming uncontrollable factors (innate ability, other people, luck)

Sometimes we attribute what happens to us to uncontrollable factors. These factors, such as innate ability (talents we are born with), luck, or other people (like our teachers), are not factors we can control. Attributing what happens to you to these factors can make you feel frustrated and out of control. Believing that the outcomes in your life depend on the actions or contributions of some outside force or person can have extremely negative consequences on your level of motivation.

Think about the following two questions:

• Why should you feel motivated if nothing that you do really matters?

• If everything that happens to you comes from some source that you have no control over, then why even try?

If you agree with the assumptions underlying these two questions, attributing your college success to uncontrollable factors can lead to lower motivation.