Final answer:
Attribution theory explains behavior in terms of situational and dispositional factors. The fundamental attribution error overemphasizes dispositional causes in others' behavior, while self-serving bias credits success to internal factors and blames failures on external ones. Both biases affect our understanding of behavior, sometimes leading to misinterpretations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Attribution Theory and Related Biases
Attribution theory is a concept in social psychology that addresses the ways in which people infer the causes of behavior and events. The theory divides explanations for behavior into two types: situational (external factors) and dispositional (internal factors).
The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency for observers to overemphasize dispositional explanations for another person's behavior and underemphasize situational explanations. For example, if a person is seen as unfriendly, we might conclude that they have an unfriendly disposition rather than considering the situational stressors that might be influencing their behavior.
Conversely, self-serving bias is our tendency to attribute our successes to internal, dispositional factors while attributing failures to external, situational factors. This bias allows us to maintain a positive self-image. For instance, if we do well on a test, we're likely to attribute it to our intelligence rather than the ease of the test.
While these explanations can help us navigate social environments by quickly forming impressions of others, they can also hinder accurate understanding of behavior when we fail to consider the full context of a situation. Acknowledging how these biases might color our interpretation can lead to more comprehensive and compassionate perspectives.