What does the fundamental attribution error refer to?

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency for individuals to underestimate the influence of situational factors while overemphasizing personality traits when evaluating the behavior of others. This cognitive bias leads observers to attribute actions to inherent characteristics of individuals rather than considering the context or external circumstances that may have influenced those actions.

For instance, if a person sees someone trip and fall, they might conclude that the person is clumsy (personality trait) rather than considering that the fall might have been caused by a slick floor (situational factor). Understanding this concept is crucial in psychology as it highlights how our perceptions of others can be skewed and may lead to misjudgments about their behavior.