We strive to see ourselves in a favorable light, and as a result we explain away anything that threatens the positive picture we
have created for ourselves about ourselves. This tendency to explain our own behavior based on situational influences is the a. the self-centered bias. b. the self-serving bias. c. the false consensus bias. d. the fundamental attribution error.
Self-serving bias refers to a cognitive bias where we attribute positive circumstances to ourselves, and negative circumstances to external factors. The self-serving bias makes us perceive ourselves in an overly positive manner. An example of a self-serving bias would be when we attribute getting an A on a test to our own abilities, hard-work and intelligence; but on the other hand if we fail a test, we attribute it to external factors such as the teacher being overly harsh or unfair.
