PSYCH 1X03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Rush Hour, Physical Attractiveness, Fundamental Attribution Error
Document Summary
It is difficult to accurately attribute intentions to observed actions because for every observed behavior, there are many possible motivating factors. We quickly and automatically form impressions based on observed behavior. How you interpret the behavior may lead you to form an impression that may or may not accurately reflect the circumstances. You are already an expert in assessing behavior through forming impressions. According to correspondent inference theory, you a(cid:272)ti(cid:448)ely a(cid:374)alyze a perso(cid:374)"s (cid:271)eha(cid:448)ior to (cid:373)ake inferences based on three variables: degree of choice, expectation. We consider to what degree a person had a choice in acting the way they did. We consider whether an observed behavior is either typical or uncommon. Uncommon behavior gives us a lot more information than common behavior. If a person behaves in a typical way to what you would expect, less information is available to infer an underlying cause to the behavior. We consider the intentions and motives behind a particular behavior.
