Which theory involves the cognitive processes we use to understand why people act in certain ways?

Attribution Theory is the correct choice because it focuses on how individuals interpret and understand the causes of behavior, both their own and that of others. This theory suggests that people attribute actions to either internal factors (such as personality traits) or external factors (such as situational influences). For instance, when observing someone who succeeds, you might attribute their success to their hard work, an internal factor, or to luck, an external factor. This cognitive process helps us make sense of social interactions and can affect how we respond to others, influencing everything from personal relationships to organizational dynamics.

Locus of Control pertains to the degree to which individuals believe they have control over the events affecting them, which affects motivation and behavior but does not specifically address the cognitive processes involved in attributing actions. Self-fulfilling Prophecy refers to the phenomenon where an individual's expectations about another person can lead to that person acting in ways that confirm those expectations, but it does not focus specifically on the cognitive streams of reasoning or the causation behind behaviors. Fundamental Attribution Error involves the tendency to overemphasize personality traits and underestimate situational factors when evaluating others' behavior, which is a specific aspect of the broader Attribution Theory but does not encompass the entire cognitive process of understanding behavior