What is the fundamental attribution error?

The fundamental attribution error refers to the psychological tendency where individuals often overemphasize personal traits and characteristics while underestimating the influence of situational factors when interpreting the behavior of others. This means that when observing someone else's behavior, people are likely to attribute it to inherent personality qualities rather than considering the context or circumstances that may have influenced that behavior. For example, if someone fails to greet us, we might think they are unfriendly, without considering that they may be preoccupied or having a bad day.

This error highlights a common bias in human judgment, where situational or environmental factors that could have played a role in behavior are overlooked. It contrasts with how individuals typically view their own behavior, where they are more likely to take situational factors into account, which is often referred to as the actor-observer effect.

Understanding this error is crucial in psychology as it helps to illuminate biases in interpersonal perception that can lead to misunderstandings or unfair assessments of others.