Question

Scenario C: Angela just received her test paper back and she earned an A. She looked over at her classmate, Lucy, and noticed that Lucy had received a D on her test.

1. According to the Fundamental Attribution Error, how will Angela explain Lucy’s poor performance on her test?

The Fundamental Attribution Error is described as “the tendency to overestimate the extent to which other people’s behavior is due to the internal, dispositional factors nand to underestimate the role of situational factors” (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, & Sommers, 2016). When Angela saw Lucy’s poor performance, Angela probably thought that Lucy was not very smart. Angela will probably not consider the situational factors that could have affected Lucy’s performance such as her personal life.

2. According to the Two-Step Process of Attribution, how might Angela adjust her initial explanation for Lucy’s poor performance? Be sure to provide a specific example of an alternate explanation for the bad grade.

“Analyze another person’s behavior first by making an automatic internal attribution and only then thinking about possible situational reasons for the behavior, after which one may adjust the original internal attribution” (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, & Sommers, 2016). When Angela made her first initial explanation for Lucy’s poor performance, she assumed that Lucy was not smart. Which automatically was the first first in internal attribution. The second step would be Angela takes time to consider if there was anything that could have potentially affected Lucy’s grade. Lucy’s grade could have been affect by family issues going on that demanded her attention, not allowing Lucy to devote the correct amount of time needed to study.

3. Based on information in the textbook, provide at least three general factors that will influence whether a person will actually engage in step two of the Two-Step Process?

The first factor in the Two-Step Process that Angela engaded in was the internal attribrution which often happens quickly and spontaneously (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, & Sommers, 2016). The second factor is adjusting the situation which requires more effort and conscious attention as apposed to the first factor (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, & Sommers, 2016). The third factor is when considering the situation, the person attempted to adjust the attribution, slowing down the thought process to take time needed to thoroughly evaluate the situation carefully and consciously (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, & Sommers, 2016).

4. Based on research on cultural differences in the Fundamental Attribution Error, explain how culture (i.e., collectivist versus individualist) influences the type of attributions people tend to make. In your answer, specify which type of culture would be more likely to make a dispositional vs. situational attribution for Lucy’s bad grade. Given your answer, which culture is more likely to make the Fundamental Attribution Error in this situation?

Answer 1

1.Fundamental attribution Error may be defined as the potential to overestimate the extent by which the behaviour of other person is due to internal factors. nI Inh case, when Angela came to know that Lucy has got D on her test, the idea that clicked in her mind was that Lucy is not an intelligent girl but she may never consider any other factors that might have disturbed Lucy and has affected her performance.

2. Angela's first initial explanation for Lucy's poor performance was that she is not an intelligent girl which is her first internal attribution.

The second step attribution would be that Angela thought there might be any personal life problem with Lucy that have affected her performance. It might happen that Lucy has got some serious family issue that is very hilarious and is extracting whole attention of Lucy towards it and not allowing Lucy to concentrate on her studies. This is the second step attribution.

3 The first factor in Two step verification was Angela's first response about Lucy's poor performance which occured spontaneously.

The second factor is just trying to understand the situation that is faced by Lucy which will require more focus and attention which will oppose the first factor.

The third factor is when understanding the situation, the person slowed down the thoughts and adjust the attribution and take some time to evaluate the complete situation in detail.

4. The culture ( i.e. collectivist vs individualist) influences the type of attributions people make.

When an individual people start thinking about a situation, only limited situations striked his mind and he tend to accept one of the best situation that might have occurred according to him only. But when collectivist people start thinking about the situation, a lot of positive and negative ideas striked different minds which are shared among themselves and this sharing again induces some thinking in thier mind which create another possibility. And there is a change that they can collectivily catch the real situation.

In this case, Lucy have got poor grade in one test and one test does not decide the potential of student. There are great chances that something has occured with her that is disturbing her completely and gaining all her concentration towards itself.

The individualist leads to Fundamental attribution error because only one mind is thinking about the situation which will give a straight forward idea that she is poor student.