What do social psychologists mean by the fundamental attribution error? Provide an example.

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A fundamental attribution error is people’s tendency to judge other people differently than themselves. In other words, it is a tendency to believe that people’s actions reflect who they are — for better or for worse. When people fail at something, they tend to think that it happened because of circumstances beyond their control. However, when others fail, people feel that it was the result of those people’s bad choices or that those people were bad in themselves. For example, when a person is late for a class, he may justify himself, saying that his bus was late. However, if his classmate is late, a person may think it rude to come in the middle of a lesson.

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Fundamental Attribution Error

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Academic.Tips. (2022, December 19). What do social psychologists mean by the fundamental attribution error? Provide an example. https://academic.tips/question/what-do-social-psychologists-mean-by-the-fundamental-attribution-error-provide-an-example/

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Academic.Tips. 2022. "What do social psychologists mean by the fundamental attribution error? Provide an example." December 19, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/what-do-social-psychologists-mean-by-the-fundamental-attribution-error-provide-an-example/.

1. Academic.Tips. "What do social psychologists mean by the fundamental attribution error? Provide an example." December 19, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/what-do-social-psychologists-mean-by-the-fundamental-attribution-error-provide-an-example/.

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Academic.Tips. "What do social psychologists mean by the fundamental attribution error? Provide an example." December 19, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/what-do-social-psychologists-mean-by-the-fundamental-attribution-error-provide-an-example/.

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"What do social psychologists mean by the fundamental attribution error? Provide an example." Academic.Tips, 19 Dec. 2022, academic.tips/question/what-do-social-psychologists-mean-by-the-fundamental-attribution-error-provide-an-example/.

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