Attribution Theory & Perception

social pschology

the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

person perception

how we form impressions of ourselves and others, including attributions of behavior.

attribution theory

the theory that we explain someone's behavior by crediting either the situation or the person's disposition

fundamental attribution error

the tendency for observers, when analyzing another's behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition

actor-observer bias

the tendency to blame our actions on the situation and blame the actions of others on their personalities

prejudice

an unjustifiable (and usually negative) attitude toward a group and its members. Prejudice generally involves stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory action.

stereotype

a generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belief about a group of people

Discrimination

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members

just-world phenomenon

the tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get

ingroup bias

the tendency to favor our own group

scapegoat theory

the tendency to blame someone else for one's own problems

other-race effect

the tendency to recall faces of one's own race more accurately than faces of other races

blame the victim

holding the victim of a crime, accident, or any type of maltreatment to be entirely or partially responsible for the transgressions committed against them