Irrational Attributions of Responsibility: Who, What, When, and Why

Abstract

“Irrational” attributions of responsibility (attributing more responsibility to a victim when his misfortune is greater and attributing more responsibility to a weaker rather than a stronger victim) were more common when decisions were hurried and among people who characteristically assign causes of actions to persons. People whose moral judgments are more sophisticated in Kohlberg's schema made fewer irrational attributions generally.