BUS 272 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Fundamental Attribution Error, Machiavellianism, Selective Perception

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Business Administration
• Course: BUS 272
• Professor: Christopher Zatzick

Document Summary

Indiv differences can have large impact on how groups & orgs function. Perception = how indivs organize & interpret their impressions to give meaning to their enviro. Ppl"s behaviour based on their perception of what reality is, not on reality itself. Attribution theory = explain ways we judge ppl diff, depending on meaning we attribute to given behaviour. When we observe atypical behaviour, we try to make sense of it. Internally caused behaviours = under personal control of indiv. Externally caused behaviours = situation forced indiv. There are biases & errors that distort attributions. Fundamental attribution error = tendency to underestimate influence of external factors & overestimate influence of internal factors when judging others. Self-serving bias = tendency for indivs to attribute own successes to internal factors while putting blame for failures on external factors. Selective perception = ppl"s selective interpretation of what they see based on interests, background, experience & attributes.