Effects of Stereotype on Causal Attributions

The purpose of this experiment was to study effects of governmental university (GU) students stereotypes about Islamic Azad University (IAU) and GU students on their attribution style about observed behaviors from GU and IAU students. 80 Tabriz GU students (32 males and 48 females) were assigned randomly in to four experiments. In each experiment condition, a target individual was int roduced to t he subjects wit h stereotype using consistent or inconsistent method. Then, they were requested to rate the importance of stable internal, unstable internal and external causes about the target behavior. the data were analyzed with mult iple variable analysis of var iance (MANOVA), two way analysis of variance (ANOVA), dependent t and independent t tests. The results showed that: 1) stereotype consistent behavior strongly attributed to stable internal causes, in comparison with the st ereotyp e inconsistent be havio r, 2) stereotype inconsistent behavior strongly attributed to external or unstable internal causes, in comparison with the stereotype consistent behavior,3) stereotype consistent behavior strongly attributed to the stable internal causes in comp arison with the external or unstable internal causes, and 4) stereotype inconsistent behavior strongly attributed to the external or unstable internal causes, in comparison with the stable internal causes. The results provided approval for the effects ofstereotype on causal attribution’s model, and d id emphasise on a relat ive difference between the Iranian and western societ ies, in the use of causal scheme for explanation of counter stereotype behavior.