Four functions that attributions fulfill for the attributor are catalogued and described. Explanatory attributions promote an understanding of the social world throuhg implicit attribution theories; predictive attributions facilitate the development of expectations concerning the likelihood of future events; egocentric attributions meet self needs and reduce anxiety; and interpersonal attributions provide for the communication of social identity information to others. The importance of considering the functions of attributions is considered, and the implications of the functions approach for attributional asymmetries, the cause/reason (...) distinction, and arguments regarding the accessibility of higher-order cognitive processes are noted. (shrink)