SOP3004 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Fundamental Attribution Error
Document Summary
When we are trying to understand and explain what happens in social settings, we tend to view behavior as a crucial and important factor. As a result, we than tend to explain behavior in terms of internal dispositions, such as personality traits, abilities, or attitude, instead of external situational factors. This can be due to our focus on the person more than their situation, which can be seen as an error since we may know very little about their situation or how they are interpreting it internally. For example, when we are playing the role of observer, or what i like to call people watching, which is primarily when we look at others, we make what is called a fundamental attribution error. As we try to explain someone"s behavior, we often underestimate the impact of the situation and overestimate the degree to which it reflects the individual"s traits and attitudes.