What distinguishes internal attributions from external attributions?

The distinction between internal and external attributions is rooted in the focus of the explanation for behavior. Internal attributions assign the cause of someone's actions to personal factors such as individual traits, dispositions, or abilities. For example, if someone performs well on a test, it might be attributed to their intelligence or hard work—factors that are inherent to the individual.

On the other hand, external attributions refer to situational influences or environmental factors that are outside of an individual’s control. Using the same example, a poor test score might be explained by external factors such as a noisy environment or lack of preparation time.

Therefore, option C accurately captures this distinction, as it specifically highlights that internal attributions focus on the personal traits of the individual, while external attributions consider the situational influences that might affect their behavior.