Attribution Theory & Motivation

In the situation when Will Hunting was required to meet with a counselor weekly to free himself from jail time, he perceived it as an external, uncontrollable factor. Due to his previous experiences of domestic physical abuse and moving between different families, he may have formed a negative impression of mental health services, as he believed they were useless and could not help him escape or remove himself from the painful situation. As a result, he did not consider seeing a counselor as a positive experience, and he felt pity for himself for having to fulfill the obligation. He may also feel angry if he had predicted this situation would last longer. However, the meetings with Dr. Sean Maguire changed his cognition and emotions, as he experienced genuine care and exchange of opinions. He then perceived the counseling with Maguire as an enjoyable and successful experience. In this case, facing the same external cause, he felt gratitude and, to some degree, hope if he thought this support could continue for an extended period.

Regarding the relationship with his girlfriend, Skylar, Will felt low self-efficacy and low ability because of his tragic past and their vast differences in their backgrounds. He internalized his early experience that stemmed from external factors as his own causes, that he was not lovable or worthy of love, which led him to move frequently and experience physical abuse, and that no family loved him. Therefore, when his relationship with Skylar went well in the beginning, he did not attribute it to internal factors, such as the belief that he was a lovable person and could contribute to a relationship to make others happy. He may attribute the success to Skylar and feel gratitude. On the other hand, when the relationship was challenged by Skylar moving to California, Will considered it both an internal and uncontrollable cause that he was not worthy of love and the relationship may not survive the change, even if he chose to move with Skylar, and external, stable, and uncontrollable causes that Skylar was away for a long period of time for working towards her career and may not return after she finished her study. As a result, Will felt ashamed about himself and withdrew, breaking up with Skylar. He also felt hopeless and pity about the external reasons that prevented him from maintaining a relationship. 

Will & Skylar

However, with Maguire's help, Will realized his past experience was not his fault; he then reattributed the situation, dropped his feelings of shame, and instead thought he was lovable and could control the outcome to some degree. He felt guilty for leaving Skylar, which propelled him to correct his behavior and go to California to see Skylar, despite the external causes and feelings caused did not change.