The Role Attributions of Motives Play in the Attribution of Deviance

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The Role Attributions of Motives Play in the Attribution of Deviance
Introduction
Social psychology is concerned about the relationships between individuals and the environment living in a social setting. This will discuss the social psychological processes such as stereotyping, schemata, attribution, and deviance in detail guided by the given meeting between a college student and her adviser
Attributions refer conclusions which people make on the causes of events and behavior. Dispositional attribution means people inferring to an event or a person’s behavior is because of personal characteristics like abilities, feelings or traits. Dispositional attribution is made when Yidan and Dr. Smith are aware of each other’s ethnic backgrounds, gender differences, and age from inferring from their physical appearance, the manner of dress and speech. This corresponds to primary deviance since it does not have a long-term consequence.
Situational attribution is derived when people infer that a person’s behavior is a result of situational factors (Link and Phelan 363). It can be seen that some students attribute cheating to students who come from Asia. It is also evident when Yidan states that she cheated because she had broken up with her boyfriend a week before which prevented her from preparing well for the test. It corresponds to secondary deviance. Secondary deviance is deviant’s behavior which occurs when a person’s self-concept starts to change after his actions are labeled deviant by the society.

Schemata are mental concepts that update an individual on what to expect from a combination of experiences and situations (Link and Phelan 365). Schemas are known to be important in that it allows us to take shortcuts in understanding a large amount of information that is available in the surroundings. Schemata is demonstrated when Yidan states that she is not like other students because most of the students cheat all the time. Another example of schemata is her belief that students cheat because they find it to be easier and they can avoid punishment. She believes no one would be hurt when she gets a better grade since most tests are biased against students for whom English is a second language. The schema that tests are biased against students for whom English is a second language and that most students cheat qualifications to be a stereotype.
Deviant is a state of departing from accepted standards. It is not clear from the situation if anyone is labeled deviant because Dr. Smith was still contemplating on what to do and whether to report her to the Provost’s office for possible disciplinary action. Stigma refers to the mark of disgrace that is linked to a particular circumstance or quality. It does not lead to stigma since she apologized for her actions. Identity markers refer to the qualities, personality, beliefs or looks that make a person or a group. Ethnic backgrounds, skin color, speech, the manner of dressing qualify to be identity markers which can form a basis for bias for prejudice and stereotypes (Link and Phelan 366).
Destigmatization is the act of removing associations of shame from an individual or groups of people (Link and Phelan 367). Yidan pleads to Dr. Smith not to report her because she has changed and had learned her lesson. She promises she would never cheat again. Strategies of neutralization are theoretical series of methods meant to neutralize deviant behavior. Yidan uses denial of injury if she gets a better grade because she cheated. She denies the responsibility for her actions because she had no choice after she broke with her boyfriend giving her hard time to prepare for the test. She condemns Dr. Smith for administering the test via the internet. She believes it was a source of cheating and should excuse her from her mistake. In sum, attribution and deviance are related. Yidan had psychological knowledge that enabled her to escape deviance.
Conclusion
Psychological processes operate in a related way. Deviance can lead to stigmatization of a person. Yidan showed a good psychological understanding by avoiding deviance and that perhaps could have contributed to Dr. Smith taking time to decide on the way forward.

Work Cited
Link, Bruce G., and Jo C. Phelan. “Conceptualizing Stigma.” Annual Review of Sociology 27.1 (2001): 363-385.