Question

The actor-observer bias qualifies the fundamental attribution error because as actors we tend to make _____ attributions, and as observers we tend to make _____ attributions.

Answer 1

Answer: External (situational), Internal (Dispositional)

Explanation:

• Actor-Observer Bias:  It describes the mistakes and errors that one makes when making up attributions about others behavior. People tend to attribute behavior of others to personal or internal factors and attribute their own behavior to situational or external factors.
• External or Situational Attribution: To interpret that someone's behavior is caused by situational factors e.g. environment, weather. time etc.
• Internal or Dispositional (Personal) Attribution: To infer or blame the personal characteristics to be the cause of behavior of someone e.g. personality, habit, capability etc.
• Example: Suppose your friend drops your new cup on the floor. You attribute him as a careless person taking his personality (internal factor) into account. Now suppose you drop the cup on the floor. You blame the uneven or slippery floor for this taking situational factor into account.