Diferenças de sexo nas atribuições causais: Inconsistências e viés (*)

 

Luísa Faria (**)

 

 

RESUMO

O estudo das diferenças de sexo nas atribuições causais e suas dimensões apresenta resultados inconsistentes, modelos diversos e viés relacionados com o tipo de tarefas usadas nos estudos, com o contexto em que decorrem e, ainda, com variáveis motivacionais e relativas aos papéis sexuais, responsáveis por diferenças de sexo nas atribuições causais. O facto dos diferentes modelos (da externalidade global, da auto-de-preciação e das baixas expectativas) para explicarem as diferenças de sexo nos padrões atribucionais, apresentarem como conclusão comum, apenas a evidência de que as raparigas não atribuem o seu sucesso à elevada capacidade, existindo uma maior tendência destas para atribuirem os seus resultados à sorte (Frieze, Whitley, Hanusa & McHugh, 1982), sugere a necessidade de considerar as diferenças, ligadas ao sexo e aos papéis sexuais, como processos - em vez de categorias estáticas -, influenciados por múltiplos factores individuais e de contexto, que apenas podem ser compreendidos quando inseridos no contexto social (Deaux, 1984).

Palavras-chave: Atribuições causais, Sexo, Expectativas de sucesso.

 

 

ABSTRACT

The study of sex differences in causal attributions and dimensions evidences inconsistent results, several theoretical models and biases related with the type of tasks used in the studies, with the achievement contexts in which the tasks are performed and, also, with motivational and gender-role variables, responsible for sex differences in causal attributions. Different theoretical models were proposed to explain sex differences in attributional patterns, such as: the general externality model, the self-derogation model and the low expectancy model. They evidenced only a common prediction: girls are unlikely to attribute their successes to ability, but are more likely to attribute them to luck (Frieze, Whitley, Hanusa & McHugh, 1982). This fact suggests the importance of considering sex and gender-role differences as processes - rather than static entities - influenced by multiple individual and context related factors, that can only be understood when considered in the social context where they are produced (Deaux, 1984).

Key words: Causal attributions, Sex, Expectancies for success.

 

 

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(*) Este estudo integra-se na dissertação apresentada pela autora para provas de doutoramento em Psicologia, na Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto.

A correspondência referente a este artigo deverá ser enviada para Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 1055, 4150 Porto.

 

(**) Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto. Membro do Centro de Psicologia Diferencial e Ecológica do Desenvolvimento, no Instituto de Consulta Psicológica, Formação e Desenvolvimento.