PS270 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Fundamental Attribution Error, Fritz Heider, Dispositional Attribution
Document Summary
It is fairly easy to make these judgements too. It states that we attribute behaviour to either internal or external factors (note: internal factors are sometimes referred to as dispositional factors and external factors are sometimes referred to as situational factors) The distinction between internal and external attributions can be very important. When we attribute behaviour to internal factors we are making the individual responsible and accountable for that behaviour. For example, people have different views on the issues of homelessness. The fundamental attribution error and the actor observer difference. If that person is unresponsive, and keeps looking back at his books, you might think he is rude or a snob. That it important information that would explain his behaviour, but you don"t know it. When you fail to consider that there are possible situational reasons for others" behaviours, and you leap to a dispositional attribution about the person, you have made the fundamental attribution error.
