Self-perception theory and research promises to add much to our understanding of how consumers learn from their own experiences and the consequences of this learning for future actions. The phenomenological focus of this framework forces one to examine not only behavior itself, but also to examine how the individual perceives the behavior. The meaning an individual assigns to his experiences is of critical importance in predicting and explaining subsequent actions. Self-perception theory acknowledges that learning from past behavior is not a simple, automatic response. Rather, it is a complex process in which what is learned from previous experiences is dependent upon many interacting factors. While situational factors affect the perception of the outcomes of consumer behavior, for example, it is also likely that some outcomes will affect the perception of situational cues.
Self-perception theory (and attribution theory in general) is inherently dynamic, and thus it orients researchers to examine behavior over time. Situational characteristics, in self-perception terms, affect behavior in both immediate and future time periods. Investigation of only the immediate impact of situational variables tells only half the story. Similarly, strategies designed to modify behavior must be evaluated at several points in time since their long-run effects may vary from their short term ones.
Caution must be exercised, however, in expecting too much of self-perception theory as developed thus far. Consumer researchers must be aware of the unresolved issues surrounding the self-perception process, and must be vigilant for conditions which may limit its cross-situational generalizability. As noted in this paper, we have only just begun to examine the self-perception process in any depth. And, consumer researchers must be careful even in applying the knowledge gained in other contexts. In consumer contexts, it may be that some product decisions involve attributional processes more frequently than others, that some individuals utilize attributional analyses more than others, or that special strategies must be developed to encourage attributional processes.
It should be clear from this paper that much research remains to be done in explicating the self-perception process and its implications for consumer behavior. Given its potential for shedding light on that ubiquitous feedback loop, however, such research seems well worth our time and resources.