some notable attributes

Attribution theory proposes that people view behavior in different ways, because the behavior or action can be attributed to different things. Everyone does this with other people and they even do it to themselves. For example, if someone is speeding past you on the highway, two very different thoughts could cross your mind. You could say, “That person is a jerk! They’re just impatient.” Or you could say, “Oh no! I hope they’re okay. If they’re going that fast it could be an emergency.” Though the person is still speeding, you attribute the behavior to different reasons. On a personal level, people attribute their successes and failures to different things, either within or out of their control, and it completely changes their feelings about an outcome.

An important relationship for Peggy throughout the show is her relationship with Donald Draper, her boss, though in different ways, across the length of the show. Peggy’s first job at Sterling Cooper (the original name for the ad agency) is as Don’s secretary, but when she’s made junior copywriter, Don becomes her boss in a different way. A consistent theme in the show is Don’s favoritism towards Peggy. This is something Peggy and Don don’t necessarily acknowledge, but it’s something pointed out to Peggy frequently. Peggy dismisses this every time and instead attributes Don’s behavior to something other than favoritism. She says things like “I’m not his favorite, do you see the way he talks to me?” or “He expects me to do whatever he wants.” What people besides Peggy see is the way Don pushes Peggy, the way Don talks to Peggy - like someone who can meet him on his level, someone who can meet his expectations. The reason Peggy can’t acknowledge Don’s special regard for her is because she attributes her personal characteristics to something outside of her control.

Peggy is one of the best copywriters there, something she proves again and again, but that’s not the only reason she’s Don’s favorite. It’s not even her work ethic - it’s Peggy’s willingness to do whatever needs to be done to get the best ad possible, which is something innate that Don attributes to Peggy’s high ability and something he sees in himself as well. In contrast, Peggy attributes her success at the job to her immense amount of effort in aspects she’s able to control and luck for the situations she’s not able to control. Peggy can’t see in herself the ways in which she’s special, but Don can.