Fundamental attribution error is a common psychology situation where people are explained from internal environments perspectives and behavioral characteristics hence making general interpretations which are biased. Fundamental attribution error operates through cognitive bias from a trait’s perspective (disposition) without considering social and environmental structures which may influence behavior. Common examples include youth attribution to law breaking i.e. statistically, male youth form the largest population of law breakers in varied contexts, prompting societal explanations of machismo and masculinity to failure to obey laws or commands.
However, this attribution fails to recognize social and environmental characteristics which facilitate such behaviors e.g. lowered gender empowerment and limited opportunities. Another example prominent in psychology settings is the etiological structure of depression; that it is resulted by individual factors such as large-scale stress exposure, accumulation and failure to manage it. However, underlying issues from patients’ social contexts are most likely to offer better explanations of depression e.g. socio-economic, cultural and political environments.
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Ways of Reducing Errors
First, we can reduce fallacies in thinking and avoid attribution by considering diverse situational possibilities when analyzing or explaining a particular behavior ( Hooper, Erdogan, Keen, Lawton & McHugh, 2015) . This is possible through individual analysis and applying generalizations in personal contexts to properly understand their devastating effects. Thereafter, we can omit generalizations and focus on factual and systemic information form environmental contexts in a particular behavior. Secondly, we can change by enquiring someone about their behavior or trait before making biased assumptions. Thirdly, being optimistic about someone’s personality and making more interactive approaches may help develop positive behavior in social environment analysis. Finally, we can reduce attribution by accepting uncertainty that we can be wrong, thinking ourselves in others’ “shoes” and applying ethical skills on analyzing behavior and respective traits.
Reference
Hooper, N., Erdogan, A., Keen, G., Lawton, K., & McHugh, L. (2015). Perspective taking reduces the fundamental attribution error. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science , 4 (2), 69-72.
