Fundamental Attribution Error

Abstract

This entry provides an introduction to the fundamental attribution error (FAE), the actor–observer hypothesis, and the process of making attributions about others' behavior. Introduced by Jones and Nisbett in 1971, the FAE captures the propensity of humans to attribute the behavior of others to their personality or internal characteristics rather than external circumstances. Situational and personality attributions are defined along with attributional biases such as the self‐serving bias. Next, three bases for attributions are explored: causal locus, stability, and control. Four causes of FAE are discussed, followed by the findings of a recent meta‐analysis that calls into question the claim that FAE and the actor–observer hypothesis are as robust as once believed.