Fundamental Attribution

Error
Fundamental attribution error is
defined as the tendency for
individuals to explain a persons
behavior as caused by personality as
opposed to the relevant situation.

2. Situational correction: If people

acquire motivation to think
further, they start to think about
the situational factors that may
have caused the behavior.

Stereotyping
An act where people generalize the
characteristics and traits of a whole
group of people despite the variation
among the members.

Independent cultures are more

likely to attribute a persons
behavior to their personalities.
Interdependent cultures are
more likely to attribute a
persons behavior to the
situational context as a whole.

2-step Process of Attribution:

1. Fundamental Attribution Error:
Initially, due to lack of
motivation and capacity, people
attribute a persons behavior to
their personality.

Connection
A common factor between
stereotyping and fundamental
attribution error is the fact that people
use mental shortcuts to explain
another persons traits and
characteristics.

Attribution between cultures:

they have formed and focus on

the situation.

This leads to people forming

impressions about a certain group of
people based on incomplete
information.
2-step Process of Stereotyping:
1. Based on prior knowledge
people automatically access
stereotypes.
2. With enough motivation and
capacity people can choose to
disregard the stereotype that

Another similarity is the ignorance of

the situation itself when forming
impressions of people. This causes
people to attribute behavior to either
a persons personality or the group
that they belong to rather than the
situation.

One can say that stereotypes are

formed through a long and sustained
process of falsely attributing traits
based on an individual or groups
personality rather than the situation
in which the act was committed.
Interestingly, if we make

situational attributions, we learn

nothing about the person or group.