2. Section B

3.  Definitions, examples, thesis  Attributions- inferred causes of behavior ▪ Fundamental attribution error (Ross, 1977)-Behavior of others -internal, ignores external ▪ Self- serving bias-Own behavior-success-internal, failure-external ▪ Self- effacing bias ▪ Blaming the victim ▪ Actor-observer discrepancy  Two of the most common attribution errors are the fundamental attribution error and the self-serving bias

4.  FAE- Ross (1977)  Evidence Jones & Harris (1967)  SSB-  Evidence Lau & Russell (1980) or Johnson (1964)  Limitations- not consistent across cultures  Self-effacing Bias in some collectivist cultures

5.  Tendency to exaggerate the importance of dispositions and minimize situational  if behavior is determined by personality, easier to predict future behavior  We are cognitive misers- we don’t spend more effort than necessary and often take mental shortcuts  Evidence: Jones & Harris, 1967  American participants given essays either for or against the Castro government ▪ Choice condition and No-choice condition (assigned the writing) ▪ FAE made when people assumed dispositional attribution in the no choice condition ▪ Nothing could be concluded about the authors attitude in the no- choice condition.

6.  Tendency to attribute successful behavior to dispositional causes, but unsuccessful behavior to situational ones  Maintains self-esteem (Miller, 1978) ▪ Self-enhancement, self-protection  Evidence  Johnson (1964)-students as teachers  Lau and Russell (1980)-athletes and coaches attributed wins to internal factors, losses to external

7.  Limitations- cross-cultural variations  Miller (1984)- FAE: asked Indian Hindus and Americans; describe a person committing a good or bad act ▪ Americans (Dispostion-40%, Situation-18%) ▪ Indian Hindus (Situation/social role-40%, Dispostion-18%)  Kashima & Triandis (1986 )Self-effacing bias in collectivist cultures, especially Japan  Studies lack ecological validity

8.  Summarize  Re-state thesis