Physiological evidence of an arousal-based motivational bias in the defensive attribution of responsibility

Abstract

Previous research has indicated only indirectly that arousal may serve to mediate the defensive attribution of responsibility to a victim. Results of two experiments presented here, however, provide direct evidence of this relationship. Specifically, female observers' sympathetic autonomic arousal in response to another's apparent sexual victimization was positively associated with their subsequent attribution of responsibility to the victim. Data in the second experiment further demonstrated that the source of this arousal must be correctly perceived, otherwise the need to attribute responsibility in a defensive manner may be diminished.