U2-L9: The Psychology of Politics

Question 1

What is attribution theory?

Answer 1

People are problem solvers attempting to understand their own behaviour and that of others so they draw on assumptions to come up with theories about why things happen and how such behaviour could be prevented

Question 2

What are the three main ways they man use attribution?

Answer 2

Fundamental Attribution Error
Availability Heuristic
Representative Heuristic

Question 3

What is a fundamental attribution error?

Answer 3

People attempt to attribute or explain their own behaviour as arising from their situation or circumstances, whereas they attribute others’ behaviour to their disposition or character traits

Question 4

What are availability heuristics?

Answer 4

People estimate the likelihood of something happening based on how top-of-mind (easy to recall) it is to them, which usually reflect their own recent experience rather than statistical likelihood.

Question 5

What are representative heuristics?

Answer 5

Individuals evaluate or judge other people based on how similar they are to the stereotype of that person.