What is the "fundamental attribution error"?

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency of individuals to underestimate the influence of situational factors and overemphasize personal traits when explaining the behaviors of others. This concept is pivotal in social psychology as it highlights how people often attribute a person's actions to their character or disposition rather than considering the context or circumstances that might have influenced those actions.

For example, if someone fails a test, observers might quickly conclude that the person is not intelligent or did not study enough, ignoring potential external factors such as personal issues or the difficulty of the exam. This shows that the correct choice reflects the bias in judgment about others' behaviors.

Considering the other choices, the tendency to invalidate one's own beliefs does not align with the idea of attribution in the context of others' behaviors. Focusing only on positive traits is a different bias, often related to self-presentation or confirmation bias, rather than attribution errors. Finally, the focus on situational factors, instead of the tendency to underestimate them, misrepresents the core concept of the fundamental attribution error, which is about neglecting these situational influences when assessing others.