PSY220H1 Study Guide - Availability Heuristic, Illusory Correlation, Observer-Expectancy Effect
Document Summary
Attribution theory is how we explain others behavior whether it be for internal dispositions or external situations. Dispositional attribution is attributing behavior to the persons dispositions or traits (just how they are) Situational attribution attributing behavior to environment or circumstance. We often infer that other peoples intentions and dispositions correspond to their actions. When we explain behavior we observe consistency (do they usually behave this way), distinctiveness (do they behave differently in other situations), and consensus (do others behave this way in this situation). If yes to any, situational attribution, if no then internal attribution. Fundamental attribution error (correspondence bias) is the tendency for observers to underestimate situational in uences and overestimate depositional in uences on others behavior. People believe that debaters actually believe the positions they defend even knowing that they had been told to take a certain position. Fundamental attribution error seems to serve our self-interest and we tend to presume that others are the way they act.
