Plain language, shorter sentences, no jargon.
The Attribution Error: Judging Character Over Circumstances
We judge others by their character but excuse ourselves by our circumstances.
When someone cuts you off in traffic, do you think what a terrible driver — or they must be in a rush?
Start here: make a prediction before reading
The fundamental attribution error (FAE) is our tendency to over-emphasize personality when explaining others behavior, while under-emphasizing the situational factors that may be driving it.
This bias runs asymmetrically: when we make mistakes, we explain them via context. But for others, we jump to character conclusions: they are lazy, they are dishonest.
Awareness of this error makes you more fair in judging others and more honest about the forces shaping your own behavior.
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