Attribution Bias

Question 1

Fundamental Attribution Error

Answer 1

Attributing another person’s behaviour to dispositional qualities rather than situational factors. This is caused by situational factors being underrepresented. FAE is less common in non-Western cultures.

Question 2

Actor-Observer differences

Answer 2

Observers tend to blame others’ disposition; we tend to explain our own behaviour in terms of the situation we were in. Observers are less likely to be aware of contextual influences on behaviour.

Question 3

False Consensus effect

Answer 3

People invent their own own consensus regarding others - this can involve who we spend company with, opinion and self-esteem enhancement. These are based around the false assumption that other people are like us.

Question 4

Self-serving biases

Answer 4

Distortions which protect or enhance self-esteem or self-concept. Self-serving = claiming credit for success; self-protecting = avoiding blame for failure. Self-protecting more likely for high esteem than low.

Question 5

Intergroup attribution

Answer 5

Group members attribute dispositionally for success of group/failure of outgroup; situationally for failure of in-group, success of outgroup. This is derived from stereotypes and may thus reflect low-effort processes. Self-derived explanations are derived from Social Identity Theory.