Attribution & Social Perception

Attribution

The process of explaining the causes of people's behavior (including our own).

Attribution Theory

A theory that describes how people explain the causes of behavior, attributing them to either internal dispositions or external situations.

Actor-Observer Bias

The tendency to attribute our own actions to external factors but others’ actions to internal traits.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overestimate the influence of personal traits and underestimate situational factors when evaluating others.

Situational Cause

Behavior attributed to external factors like the environment or circumstances.

Dispositional Cause

Behavior attributed to internal traits like personality or character.

Stereotype

A generalized belief or assumption about a group of people.

Prejudice

A negative attitude or feeling toward an individual based on their group membership.

Discrimination

Negative or unfair behavior toward individuals based on their group membership.

In-group / Out-group

An in-group is the group you identify with; the out-group is everyone else. People tend to favor the in-group.

Just World Phenomenon

The belief that the world is fair and people get what they deserve.

Scapegoat Theory

Blaming an innocent group/person for one’s own problems or societal issues.

Social Comparison

Evaluating oneself by comparing with others.

Explicit Prejudice

Conscious, deliberate negative attitudes.

Implicit Prejudice

Unconscious, automatic negative attitudes.