PSYC 1010 Chapter Notes - Chapter 13: Fundamental Attribution Error, Cognitive Dissonance, Fritz Heider

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1010
• Professor: Heather Jenkin

Document Summary

Attributions: judgments about causes of our own & other people"s behaviour and outcomes. Fritz heider: pioneer of attribution theory: personal (internal) attributions: people"s behaviour is caused by their characteristics, situational (external) attributions: aspects of the situation cause a behaviour. 3 types of information determine attribution we make: consistency, distinctiveness & consensus: when 3 are all high = situational attribution, when consistency is high, other two are low, we make a personal attribution. Fundamental attribution error: underestimate impact of situation & overestimate role of personal factors when explaining other people"s behaviour: people make fundamental attribution error on basis of actors" professional roles: expect. Tv and movie stars to have the same personal traits as the characters they play. Applies to how we perceive other people"s behaviour rather than our own: example: slow driver ahead of us is a moron, fast driver trying to pass us is a maniac.