Theories Of Fundamental Attribution Error
Attribution Theory is used by social psychologist to observe how people go about attributing causes to behaviours. According to Fritz Heider well known attribution theorist these may be internal or external factors. Internal factor include internal causes such as the person being clumsy or lazy. External factors refer to the outcome being caused by environmental factors (Morris & Maisto, 2013).
While theorist Harold Kelly conclude that humans rely on three sets of information in order to arrive at a conclusion about a situation.
Distinctiveness
- this situation happen regularly (Low Distinctiveness)
- this situation is irregular and unusual (High Distinctiveness)
Consistency
- occurs consistently and is not new (High Consistency)
- unusual …show more content…
In pointing out some ones else’s situation the observer may assume that the cause of the actors problem is because of their own internal issues. For example, if a person has a hoodie over his head, a person first assumption will be that they are a gangster but not because they might be cold or under the weather. This kind a bias is refered to a Fundamental Attribution Error. The observer will be quick to point out the possible internal factor of others and underemphasize their own. Fundamental attribution error can also be seen as a part of the actor/observer bias. This theory was first developed by E. Jones and R. Nisbett (Unknown, 2008). In the actor/observer bias conclusion is drawn based on the role that the individual is playing. Within this scenario a person may attribute their own situation or mishap to an external factor whilst as observing someone else we will point out on internal factor. For example, if you are stop by a police while driving on the high way, you would immediately blamed this on an external factor (the car in front caused you to slip out the lane or swerve) while if some ones else is stop on the high way, you would point out their internal factor, as in they weren’t following the road code or they must be wanted criminals. Another popular kind of bias studied is Defensive attribution, this is an individual credit their success to their own effort
While theorist Harold Kelly conclude that humans rely on three sets of information in order to arrive at a conclusion about a situation.
Distinctiveness
- this situation happen regularly (Low Distinctiveness)
- this situation is irregular and unusual (High Distinctiveness)
Consistency
- occurs consistently and is not new (High Consistency)
- unusual …show more content…
In pointing out some ones else’s situation the observer may assume that the cause of the actors problem is because of their own internal issues. For example, if a person has a hoodie over his head, a person first assumption will be that they are a gangster but not because they might be cold or under the weather. This kind a bias is refered to a Fundamental Attribution Error. The observer will be quick to point out the possible internal factor of others and underemphasize their own. Fundamental attribution error can also be seen as a part of the actor/observer bias. This theory was first developed by E. Jones and R. Nisbett (Unknown, 2008). In the actor/observer bias conclusion is drawn based on the role that the individual is playing. Within this scenario a person may attribute their own situation or mishap to an external factor whilst as observing someone else we will point out on internal factor. For example, if you are stop by a police while driving on the high way, you would immediately blamed this on an external factor (the car in front caused you to slip out the lane or swerve) while if some ones else is stop on the high way, you would point out their internal factor, as in they weren’t following the road code or they must be wanted criminals. Another popular kind of bias studied is Defensive attribution, this is an individual credit their success to their own effort