I think it's more likely that number 1 is the norm and 2 and 3 are the rare exceptions. We aren't omniscient beings. Your perception that person A stole credit

I think it's more likely that number 1 is the norm and 2 and 3 are the rare exceptions. We aren't omniscient beings. Your perception that person A stole credit for your idea may forget that person A was involved or doesn't account for the work they did that you weren't aware of. 3 people sit around at a table during happy hour discussing ideas for an offsite. Person A suggests that they have it in Atlanta and provides good justification. Later, Person B follows up with their contact in finance to see if they can extend the budget, and gets it approved. Person C, who's job it was to plan the offsite, coordinates with the travel coordinators, gets invitations sent out, and other various Who's idea was this? Who deserves the credit? I think all 3 have claims and it'd be easy for each one of them to accuse the other 2 of idea theft or taking credit for things they didn't do. A contrived example, yes, but I think misunderstandings due to a lack of seeing all the information/data happens more often than people realize.