Question

Before Mark has even heard the details of how Allison's car accident happened, he commented, "Allison is so absentminded, I'm sure it happened because she was probably talking on her cell phone and not paying attention." Mark's response illustrates an attributional pattern called:

a) Fundamental attribution error
b) Self-serving bias
c) Stereotyping
d) Confirmation bias

Answer 1

Mark's assumption about Allison's car accident is an example of the fundamental attribution error, which is when someone attributes another's actions to personal traits, ignoring situational factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mark's response to Allison's car accident without knowing the details, and attributing it to her being absentminded and talking on her phone, is an example of an attributional pattern known as the fundamental attribution error.

This cognitive bias refers to the tendency of attributing someone else's actions to their character or personality, while underestimating situational factors that may have contributed to their behavior. It's an error commonly made in social perception where the observer discounts the external factors and focuses on internal characteristics without sufficient evidence.