Kelley's covariation model
Maria laughs at a comedian. Most people laugh at him (high consensus), Maria laughs every time she sees him (high consistency), and she rarely laughs at other comedians (high distinctiveness). Kelley's model predicts an attribution to:
Answer C: explanation for every choice
A
An internal attribution fits low consensus, high consistency, and low distinctiveness.
B
Attribution to circumstances fits low consistency.
C
Correct. High consensus, consistency, and distinctiveness together point to the stimulus. The comedian is funny.
D
The three dimensions are enough to make a prediction.
TakeawayHigh consensus + high distinctiveness + high consistency → external cause.
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Reviewed 2026-11-05 by a medical student. Spot an error? Report it with question ID ps159.