Question

What is the ‘fundamental attribution error’ in social psychology?

• A. Overestimating situational factors in explaining others’ behavior
• B. Underestimating personal traits in social interactions
• C. Attributing one’s own behavior to external factors while attributing others’ behavior to internal factors
• D. Assuming group behavior is representative of individual intentions

Hint:

The fundamental attribution error is when we attribute our own actions to external circumstances and others’ actions to their character traits.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to attribute our own behavior to external (situational) factors while attributing others' behavior to internal (dispositional) factors. For example, if someone cuts us off in traffic, we might think they are rude, but if we cut someone off, we justify it by saying we were in a rush.
- Overestimating situational factors (A) is a description of the opposite of the fundamental attribution error, known as the actor-observer bias.
- Underestimating personal traits in social interactions (B) is not a clear explanation of the fundamental attribution error, as it does not directly relate to the attribution of others' behaviors.
- Assuming group behavior (D) is more related to groupthink or the assumption that group behaviors reflect individual intentions, but it is not the fundamental attribution error.
Therefore, the correct answer is (C).