Fundamental Attribution Error
The fundamental attribution error is a cognitive bias describing the common tendency to overemphasize internal, dispositional factors as explanations for someone else's behavior while underestimating the impact of external, situational factors. This error is so powerful that people often overlook even obvious situational influences, leading to the incorrect assumption that a person's actions are a direct reflection of their personality rather than a response to their circumstances. This tendency is particularly prevalent in cultures, such as the predominant one in the United States, that favor a dispositional view of human behavior.
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Ch.12 Social Psychology - Psychology @ OpenStax
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OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook
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Dispositional attribution (internal)
Situational attribution (external)
Influences on attributions (explanations)
Fundamental Attribution Error
Fundamental Attribution Error
Self-Serving Bias
When explaining why someone performed poorly on a test, which of the following is an example of a dispositional attribution?
Which of the following is an example of a situational attribution for someone arriving late to a meeting?
Which of the following is an example of a dispositional attribution for someone getting a promotion at work?
Which of the following is an example of a situational attribution for someone failing to meet a project deadline?
Three Dimensions of Attribution (Weiner, 1979)
Sources of Bias in Attribution
The Fundamental Attribution Error
Explanatory Style
Fundamental Attribution Error
The Fundamental Attribution Error
Fundamental Attribution Error
A student you don't know well fails an exam. Which of the following thoughts best represents an explanation for their failure that is based on external, situational factors?
The Fundamental Attribution Error
Fundamental Attribution Error
Just-World Hypothesis
A student in your class, Sam, fails an important exam. Based on your understanding of how people explain behavior, which of the following statements is the best example of an explanation that focuses on internal, personal factors?
Fundamental Attribution Error
Victim Blame
A new employee consistently arrives late for work. In a culture where it is common to explain behavior by focusing on an individual's personality and habits rather than outside circumstances, which of the following conclusions about the employee is most likely to be made by their coworkers?