Question

Janet says, "i didn't get a job offer because the interviewer was biased and it was a nasty day. However, ellen didn't get an offer because she isn't qualified." this is an example of select one:

a. Construct differentiation.
b. Stereotyping.
c. Self-serving bias.
d. Internal attributions.
e. Scripting.

Answer 1

The answer is C. Self-serving bias.

Self serving bias is the tendency to perceive oneself favorably. It's when we attribute success to ability and effort, so in the example above Ellen isn't qualified so she didn't get the job, and we attribute failure to external factors, so in the example above Janet uses the excuse of external factors - interviewer bias and a nasty day - as the reasons for why she didn't get the job.

Self serving bias serves to modify and improve our view of ourselves relative to others. It can have it's benefits such as buffering us from anxiety and depression.