Final answer:
The fundamental attribution error is a bias where individuals overemphasize dispositional factors over situational ones when interpreting others' behavior. It is more common in individualistic cultures and illustrated by studies like the quizmaster experiment which highlights our tendency to overlook situational influences and attribute others' actions to their personality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency for people to over-emphasize dispositional or personality-based explanations for the observed behaviors of others while underestimating the influence of situational factors. Research has shown that this error is more prevalent in individualistic cultures than collectivistic ones. For instance, cultures that emphasize individual achievement, like the United States, are more prone to making these errors compared to cultures that value communal relationships.
An example of the fundamental attribution error is evident in the quizmaster study, where participants who observed a quiz show tended to rate the questioner's intelligence as higher than that of the contestant, despite the questioner having the advantage of knowing the answers ahead of time. This demonstrates how observers can fail to account for situational factors and instead attribute outcomes to personal dispositions.
Situational versus dispositional influences on behavior is a key concept in understanding the fundamental attribution error. Dispositional influences relate to a person's character or traits, while situational influences involve external factors that affect behavior.