What is the process of making inferences about the causes of events or behaviors to understand social experiences called?

The process of making inferences about the causes of events or behaviors to understand social experiences is known as attribution. Attribution theory explores how individuals interpret and explain the reasons behind their own and others' actions. This can involve determining whether behaviors are due to internal factors (such as personality traits or intentions) or external factors (such as situational influences). By understanding attribution, researchers can gain insights into social dynamics, communication patterns, and interpersonal relationships.

The other options refer to different concepts. Bias typically relates to systematic errors in judgment or perception that can distort understanding. Effort justification refers to a cognitive dissonance theory concept where individuals rationalize the effort they put into achieving a goal, often leading to an inflated assessment of the value of the outcome. Social inference, while related to making judgments about social information, is broader and doesn't specifically address the causal interpretations encompassed within attribution.