The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to attribute others’ behaviors to internal factors while ignoring external factors from "summary" of The Handbook of Social Psychology by Daniel Todd Gilbert,Susan T. Fiske,Gardner Lindzey
The fundamental attribution error is a common cognitive bias that affects how individuals perceive and interpret the behavior of others. This error occurs when people tend to attribute the actions of others to internal traits or characteristics, such as personality or disposition, while ignoring or underestimating the role of external factors, such as situational context or environmental influences. For example, if someone sees a person behaving rudely towards a cashier at a store, they may assume that the individual is inherently rude or hostile, without considering the possibility that the person may be having a bad day, facing significant stress, or dealing with personal issues that are influencing their behavior. This tendency to focus on internal factors and overlook external circumstances can lead to misunderstandings, misjudgments, and unfair evaluations of others. The fundamental attribution error is rooted ...
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