Question

Annika says, "I didn't get a job offer because the interviewer was biased and it was a nasty day. However, Kathy didn't get an offer because she isn't qualified." This is an example of __________.

a) Fundamental attribution error
b) Self-serving bias
c) Actor-observer bias
d) Halo effect

Answer 1

The example provided is an example of self-serving bias, where Annika attributes her lack of job offer to external factors and Kathy's lack of job offer to internal factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

The example provided, where Annika attributes her lack of job offer to interviewer bias and a nasty day, while attributing Kathy's lack of job offer to lack of qualifications, is an example of self-serving bias.

Self-serving bias is the tendency to attribute one's own successes to internal factors (such as personal abilities) and one's failures to external factors (such as bad luck or bias), while attributing others' successes to external factors and their failures to internal factors.

In this case, Annika is biased towards herself by attributing the job offer rejection to external reasons, whereas she attributes Kathy's rejection to internal reasons.