Grumpy or Tired?

 Have you ever noticed someone frowning and caught yourself thinking, “Wow, that person is a grumpy gus?” Chances are, you are committing the fundamental attribution error (Ross, 1977). This is the tendency that people have when interpreting behavior by making personal attributions (i.e., believing behavior is due to a person’s disposition) and underestimating the importance of the situation (Heider, 1958).  In one study, researchers assigned participants to read pro and anti-Fidel Castro essays that were either written by choice or were assigned an opinion (Jones & Harris, 1967). This study found that participants still rated the beliefs of the authors of pro-Castro essays as more favorable of Castro, even when they were told their opinion was assigned (Jones & Harris, 1967). This study demonstrates the fundamental attribution error because participants attribute personal beliefs to the essay’s author (i.e., personal attribution) and underestimate the impact of assigning the writer an opinion for their essay (Ross, 1977; Heider, 1958; Jones & Harris, 1967).

 

Personally, I have several examples where I have made the common fundamental attribution error (Ross, 1977). I originally believed that one of my best friends was incredibly rude. We had our first period in high school together (around 8:00 in the morning) and I was often paired up with them to discuss readings we did for homework. They never smiled, rarely spoke, and made little eye contact. I believed they did not like me and were a rude and uncaring person. Then, I realized that they participated in track, which had meetings and workouts at around 6:00 most mornings. Due to this early start, they were tired every morning and trying desperately to not fall asleep in the boring class we had together. I falsely attributed the little responses and lack of emotion to them being a negative person and did not imagine something was causing them to act like that. When I saw them later in the day (usually with an energy drink in hand) they would smile and ask how I was doing. It turns out they are a friendly person, just not a morning person! Additionally, I often take it personally when someone snaps at me or is impatient. For example, if my mom were to yell and say “I don’t know, do it yourself,” in a flabbergasted tone, I would assume she was annoyed with me and attribute it to her personality. Afterward, I would reflect on the conversation and realize she probably had a rough day and just wanted to rest, which was almost always the case.

 

It is common to neglect the situational factors that affect one’s behavior and quickly make personal attributions instead (Heider, 1958). It is helpful to recognize this as the fundamental attribution error and consciously make an effort to determine one’s situation and correct our immediate judgments (Ross, 1977).

 

N= 470

 

References

Heider, F. (1958). The psychology of interpersonal relations. New York: Wiley.

Jones, E. E., & Harris, V. A. (1967). The attribution of attitudes. Journal of experimental social psychology, 3(1), 1-24.

Ross, L. (1977). The Intuitive Psychologist and His Shortcomings: Distortions in the Attribution Process1. In Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 10, pp. 173-220). Academic Press.

 

I have acted with honesty and integrity in producing this work and am unaware of anyone who has not. – Mara Strohl