Question

Rachel's new roommate, Berta, has not done laundry for an entire week. Her clothes are lying all over their room. This leads Rachel to assume that Berta is an untidy and undisciplined person. What Rachel does not know is that Berta is currently taking finals and working 40 hours per week. In the context of social cognition, Rachel is primarily _____ to explain Berta's behavior.

Answer 1

Rachel is falling prey to the fundamental attribution error by making assumptions about Berta's personality (untidy and undisciplined) without considering her busy finals and work schedule, which are external factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

Rachel is primarily using an attribution bias to explain Berta's behavior. She has made an assumption about Berta's personality traits (untidy and undisciplined) without considering external factors that may be influencing her roommate's actions, such as a busy schedule.

In social cognition, this is known as the fundamental attribution error, a common bias where people tend to attribute someone else's behavior to their character or disposition while underestimating the impact of situational factors. In contrast, when we evaluate our behavior, we are more inclined to account for situational variables. Rachel might be operating under this bias, not acknowledging that Berta’s current situation of finals and work commitments could be the reason for her untidy room.

This mismatch in judgment can lead to misunderstandings and an inaccurate assessment of a person's character. Rachel's awareness of Berta's full circumstances might change her perception and lead to a more empathetic and accurate view of the situation.