1. Ch 3: Social Beliefs & Judgments
Part 2: Feb. 4, 2013

2. Attributions & Heuristics
Attributions are judgments about reasons for events or behaviors
Heuristics: mental shortcuts
1. Availability Heuristic: what is it?
Example?
Can lead to false consensus

3. 2) Representativeness Heuristic:
What is it?
Example?
3) Counterfactual thinking:

4. Attributions Attribution = explanation about a behavior
Heider – personal vs. situational
Kelly’s Covariation Theory (an attribution theory):
Attribute behavior to internal (person) or external (situation) based on 3 questions –
1. Consensus
2. Distinctiveness
3. Consistency

5. If low distinctiveness & low consensus, but high consistency, which attribution?
Example?
If high distinctiveness & high consensus, but low consistency, which attribution?

6. Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)
Relevant to judging others’ behavior:
When do we make an internal attribution?
When do we make an external attribution?
2-step process:
Example?