What is the characteristic of interpreting events in a manner that assigns credit for success to oneself?

The characteristic of interpreting events in a manner that assigns credit for success to oneself is aptly described by self-serving bias. This psychological phenomenon occurs when individuals take personal credit for their achievements or successes while attributing failures to external factors. For example, if someone does well on a test, they might attribute their success to their intelligence or hard work, but if they do poorly, they might blame the difficulty of the exam or an unfair grading system.

This tendency helps maintain self-esteem and a positive self-image, reinforcing the belief that one has control over outcomes in their life. In contrast, external locus of control refers to the belief that external factors, such as fate or the influence of others, control life’s outcomes, while internal locus of control indicates that one believes they have the ability to influence events through their own efforts. Attribution theory provides a broader framework for understanding how people explain causes of events, but self-serving bias specifically captures the tendency to credit oneself for positive outcomes.