Interpersonal Interaction and Fundamental Attribution Error

These flashcards cover the concepts of fundamental attribution error, salience, empathy, and interpersonal competence based on a student interaction scenario.

Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)

An interpersonal interaction error where one blames a person's character rather than looking at outside circumstances, such as blaming a classmate's lack of communication on their character.

Salience

A factor in social perception that made a classmate's lack of effort to show up to online meetings highly noticeable, leading to judgments without knowing the actual circumstances.

Empathy

The consideration of what is happening in a person's life outside of school, which can lead to a more understanding explanation of their behavior and more respectful interactions.

Interpersonal Competence

The goal of improving interactions by deepening one's understanding of communication, which leads to more respectful exchanges.

Internal Attribution (Character Blame)

The tendency to attribute a person's negative behavior, such as missing group meetings, to their personal character traits rather than situational factors.

External Attribution (Outside Circumstances)

The consideration of environmental or situational factors that may explain a person's behavior, which is often overlooked during the fundamental attribution error.