4.1: Attribution Theory and Person Perception

Question 1

the theory that we explain someone’s behavior by crediting either the situation (a situational
attribution) or the person’s stable, enduring traits (a dispositional attribution).

Answer 1

Attribution Theory

Question 2

the tendency for observers, when analyzing others’ behavior, to underestimate the impact of the
situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition.

Answer 2

Fundamental Attribution Error

Question 3

the tendency for those acting in a situation to attribute their behavior to external causes, but for
observers to attribute others’ behavior to internal causes. This contributes to the fundamental
attribution error (which focuses on our explanations for others’ behavior).

Answer 3

actor-observer bias

Question 4

an unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members. Prejudice
generally involves negative emotions, stereotyped beliefs, and a predisposition to discriminatory
action.

Answer 4

prejudice

Question 5

a generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belief about a group of people.

Answer 5

stereotype

Question 6

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group or its members.

Answer 6

discrimination

Question 7

the “we” aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answer to “Who am I?” that comes from our
group memberships.

Answer 7

social identity

Question 8

“us” — people with whom we share a common identity.

Answer 8

ingroup

Question 9

“them” — those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup.

Answer 9

outgroup

Question 10

the tendency to favor our own group.

Answer 10

ingroup bias

Question 11

the theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame.

Answer 11

scapegoat theory

Question 12

the tendency to recall faces of one’s own race more accurately than faces of other races. Also
called the cross-race effect and the own-race bias.

Answer 12

other-race effect