← Chapter 12
Psychology · Chapter 12

Person or Situation?

When we explain why someone acted a certain way, we make an attribution. We put the cause on their character or on their circumstances. The trouble is, we lean much too hard on character. Read each scene, make your call, and watch the fundamental attribution error show itself.

A scene to read

Dispositional = caused by the person's traits, character, or attitude. Situational = caused by the circumstances around them.
Six everyday scenesread one, then judge it
Correct reads0
Error traps avoided0