Lay attributions of unemployment: Data from an Australian community sample

Abstract

The present study examined the explanations for unemployment among a community sample of 300 adult Australians. In line with a recent British study (Furnham, 1982), explanations were found to be multidimensional. The following dimensions were identified: (negative) individualistic or “blame the victim”, societal (inefficiency), societal (government policy) and fatalistic explanations. Not surprisingly, results showed that those who had at some stage received unemployment benefits were less likely to endorse individualistic explanations (t □ 2.04, df □ 298, p < .04), and more likely to endorse societal explanations. Other demographic correlates of these explanations are noted and the results discussed with reference to previous research.