BIAS OF THE WEEK

Fundamental Attribution Error

Researchers conducted an experiment with students. Participants read essays that either supported or opposed Fidel Castro

  • One group was told the author chose their position.
  • The other group was told the position was assigned randomly.

Participants still believed the essay reflected the author’s true opinion, even when they knew the position was assigned.

We often assume people’s actions reflect their true beliefs or personality and overlook how much of their behavior is influenced by the situation.

See the full study here :

Jones, E. E., & Harris, V. A. (1967). The attribution of attitudes. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 3(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1031(67)90034-0

Want to know more about biases?

Negativity Bias

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Functional Fixedness

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Planning Fallacy

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Focusing Illusion

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