Suppose you notice that Fred becomes very embarrassed when the subject of knives comes up. In fact, he is the only person you have ever seen react in this way when you talk about knives, and he has never before expressed any concern about knives. According to Kelley, Fred's behavior is very high in:
A) consistency
B) consensus
C) distinctiveness
D) reactance

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Kelley's covariation theory proposes that behavior can be attributed to internal or external causes based on three factors: consistency, consensus, and distinctiveness. Consistency refers to whether the behavior occurs regularly in a given situation, consensus refers to whether others behave similarly in that situation, and distinctiveness refers to whether the behavior is specific to that situation or occurs in other situations as well. In this case, Fred's behavior of becoming very embarrassed when the subject of knives comes up is not consistent, as he has never expressed any concern about knives before. It is also not a shared behavior among others, as the question states that he is the only person to react this way. Therefore, the behavior is high in distinctiveness, indicating that it is likely due to an external cause.

Suppose You Notice That Fred Becomes Very Embarrassed When the Subject