Question

Believing that your roommate is to blame for your poor performance on your history exam is most likely an example of ___________. a. a trait attribution b. the fundamental attribution error c. the actor/observer bias d. the self-serving bias

Short answer

The answer is d. the self-serving bias.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Problem

Begin by understanding what the question is asking. It concerns blaming a roommate for poor performance on a personal activity, specifically a history exam.

Identifying Key Concepts

Identify that the question is about attributions, which are explanations we give for our own and others’ behaviors. The options include types of attributions such as the fundamental attribution error, actor/observer bias, and self-serving bias.

Analyzing the Options

Review each option to understand its meaning: - **a. Trait attribution**: Assigning behavior to a personality trait. - **b. Fundamental attribution error**: Overemphasizing personality traits for others' behaviors. - **c. Actor/observer bias**: Making external attributions for own actions and internal attributions for others'. - **d. Self-serving bias**: Attributing successes to oneself, but failures to external factors.

Matching Concepts to Example

The question involves blaming an external factor (the roommate) for one's own failure, which is indicative of trying to protect one's self-image by attributing the failure to something other than oneself.

Selecting the Correct Option

The description, attributing failure to an external reason (the roommate), aligns with **d. the self-serving bias**, where individuals blame external factors for failures.

Key concepts

self-serving bias

Self-serving bias is a common psychological tendency where people attribute their successes to internal factors, such as their abilities or efforts, while blaming external factors when they fail. This type of bias helps preserve self-esteem and protects one's ego.
For example, if you perform well on a test, you might say it's because you studied hard and are intelligent. However, if you perform poorly, you might blame the distracting environment or even a roommate. It's important to be aware of this bias because it can prevent us from learning from mistakes. By blaming external factors for our failures, we may not take corrective actions to improve.
The self-serving bias can influence how individuals interact with others, potentially leading to conflicts if individuals refuse to accept their own role in negative situations.

actor/observer bias

Actor/observer bias is a cognitive pattern where people tend to attribute others' actions to their personality or character (internal factors) while attributing their own actions to situational factors (external influences). This bias highlights the difference in perception when we are the actor versus the observer in a situation.
For instance, if someone sees a person trip, they might think that person is clumsy (observer bias). However, if they trip themselves, they might blame it on an uneven ground (actor bias).
This bias occurs because people have more information about their own situations and behaviors than they do about others. Recognizing this bias can help in understanding interpersonal interactions and improving empathy. Understanding that others might have different perspectives can foster better communications and less misunderstanding.

fundamental attribution error

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency for people to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors when they explain other people's behavior. This means that we often assume that what others do is driven by their personal traits, rather than external factors influencing them.
For example, if someone cuts you off in traffic, you might think they're rude or aggressive, rather than considering they might be in a rush due to an emergency. This error can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts, as it often results in unfair judgments about others.
Recognizing this tendency can improve our ability to empathize with others and consider the context of a situation before forming judgments. It’s crucial to consider both internal and external factors when evaluating others' actions to obtain a more balanced view.