correspondence inference

n. Correspondence inference refers to the judgment of the extent to which one's behavior provides an accurate indication of an individual's enduring dispositions. Three important criteria have been proposed to determine whether the behavior reflects a person's disposition: (a) Choice - did the individual choose to act in this way? (b) Expectedness - was this behavior typical of the individual or typical for a person in that particular role? (c) Consequence - how positive is the outcome? Perceivers tend to make correspondence inferences when the behavior reflects an enduring element of the individual if the act is engaged in because of a personal choice, is unexpected, and does not lead to highly positive outcomes.

- EWMA, CYC

► See also dispositional inferences