PSY 0105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Fundamental Attribution Error
Document Summary
When perceiving others, attributes that we learn first, have an influence over the other attributes learned later. Heuristics (mental shortcut, or rule of thumb) Representativeness: the degree to which an event is similar in essential characteristics to its parent population. Availability: if something is readily available in our minds, we assume it is common. Two general causes of behavior: external (situation) vs. internal (personal) Internal attribution: behavior is caused by internal factors like personality, attitudes, motives. External attribution: person"s behavior is caused by situational factors. The tendency to overlook the impact of a situation and attribute someone"s actions to his or her disposition. People who are distracted are likely to still make a dispositional (personal) attribution. Beliefs that end up causing what we expected. When we believe something about someone, we may behave in a way that elicits confirming behavior from them.
