What excuses do

· Shift causal attribution away from self (it is not my fault)

· Protect self-image (I am not the kind of person who would . . .)

Excuses that don’t work (they make others feel angry and less respecting)

· Internal (I could not find it)

· Controllable (I ran out of time)

· Intentional (I did not feel like going)

Excuses that work (they make people feel like they want to give you a break)

· External (My mother wouldn’t let me leave the house).

· Uncontrollable (an earthquake knocked out the power).

· Unintentional (I got on the wrong bus by mistake).

Why people are motivated to make excuses

· Impression management

· Want to impress someone significant

· Gap between real and ideal or imagined self

· The situation calls for it

· The teacher/parent acts as the judge of good and bad excuses

· An excuse could improve the outcome.

· Self-image is put in jeopardy by threat

· Teach cause and effect - help students learn that actions have consequences and we can grow from our both successes and failures.

· Be consistent with your management and how you deliver consequences.

· Build-up self-esteem (competence, belonging, and especially internal LOC).

· Eliminate the need for students to make excuses – don’t ask for them.

· Eliminate the use of all blame. Blame is external and past oriented. Responsibility is based on an internal LOC and future oriented.

· Do not accept any “victim language.” Eliminate all learned helplessness.

· Do not be the judge of good or bad excuses.