Final answer:
The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize personality traits and underestimate situational factors when assessing someone else's behavior, e.g. rolling through a stop sign. This is influenced by cultural factors, with individualistic cultures showing a higher tendency for this error.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the fundamental attribution error, when you see someone roll through a stop sign, you are likely to assume that this behavior is due to their personality or disposition, rather than situational factors. This is because, as observers, we often lack complete information about others' circumstances and therefore tend to make internal attributions about their behavior. In contrast, when examining our own behavior, we are privy to the situational factors affecting us and are more likely to attribute our actions to these external influences, a phenomenon known as the actor-observer bias.
Furthermore, research has shown that the likelihood of committing the fundamental attribution error can vary culturally. People from individualistic cultures are more disposed to view behavior as a reflection of individual personality, while those from collectivistic cultures are less likely to make this error, as they consider the context of communal relationships and situational factors more deeply.