Forming Impressions

Dispositional Attribution

Explaining behavior based on internal traits (personality, character).

Situational Attribution

Explaining behavior based on external factors (environment, luck).

Fundamental Attribution Error

Tendency to overestimate internal traits and underestimate the situation in others.

Actor-Observer Effect

Attributing your failures to the situation, but others' failures to their character.

Self-Serving Bias

Taking personal credit for success, but blaming the situation for failure.

Proximity

You are more likely to be attracted to those who are physically close to you.

Functional Distance

How often you actually interact (e.g., living near the elevator vs. the end of the hall).

Mere Exposure Effect

We tend to like things/people more just by being frequently exposed to them.

Halo Effect

Assuming a physically attractive person also has a "beautiful" personality.

• Consensus: Do others behave this way? (High = Everyone does it).

• Distinctiveness: Does the person behave this way in different situations? (High = They only do it here).

• Consistency: Does the person always behave this way in this situation? (High = Every time).

If Consensus and Distinctiveness are Low, but Consistency is High, we make a Dispositional (Internal) attribution.

Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE) vs. Actor-Observer

FAE: Only about others. You see someone trip and think "They are clumsy."

Actor-Observer: Comparing you vs. them. You trip and say "The floor was wet" (you), but they trip and you say "They are clumsy" (them).

Proximity vs. Functional Distance

Proximity: You live in the same building.

Functional Distance: You both use the same laundry room at the same time.