Final answer:
Attributions are personal explanations about the causes of behavior or events; the correct answer is 'c) Attributions.' This concept is important in understanding social perception and can be influenced by biases, such as stereotypes and prejudices, leading to confirmation bias.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of attribution is central to understanding how people interpret their social world. When individuals observe a behavior, they attempt to determine whether it is internally caused by the person's disposition or attitude, or externally caused by the situation the person is in, which is highlighted in the idea of the actor-observer bias. This bias illustrates that people tend to attribute their own actions to external factors while attributing others' actions to internal factors. Attribution theory also connects to phenomena like the fundamental attribution error and self-serving bias, reinforcing the importance of attributions in social perception.
Attributions can be influenced by stereotypes and prejudice, as these can lead to biased interpretations of behaviors. If someone has a prejudiced view towards a group, they may make attributions about individual behavior that align with their preexisting beliefs, not taking into account external factors. This is a part of the confirmation bias, as people seek out or interpret information in a way that confirms their preconceptions, reinforcing stereotypes and prejudices.