Which term best describes the cognitive framework that explains why individuals behave in specific ways?

Attribution Theory is the correct term that best describes the cognitive framework explaining why individuals behave in specific ways. This theory focuses on how people interpret and understand the causes of their own behaviors as well as the behaviors of others. It posits that individuals attribute causes to events based on their observations, leading them to interpret actions as being driven by internal factors (like personality traits) or external factors (like situational influences).

For example, if a student performs poorly on an exam, they might attribute their performance to a lack of ability (internal attribution) or to the exam being particularly difficult (external attribution). This is crucial in understanding behavior in organizational settings as it can influence motivation, performance, and interpersonal relationships.

Strength does not pertain to behavior explanations but might relate to the intensity of a response. Locus of Control refers to an individual's belief about the extent to which they can control events affecting them, which is a concept related to Attribution Theory but does not encompass the broad attributions people make about behavior. Magnitude generally relates to size or importance, which does not directly relate to behavioral explanations.