The fundamental attribution error is like a personal defense mechanism where one shift blame for their behavior. They can blame external factors, including others, the environment with acknowledging that it could be a flaw in their inherent attributes. However, when other people display a specific behavior, these individuals will blame the character ignoring situational factors.
Fundamental attribution error is a result of how people view the world. You can only understand yourself and the things that are going on in your life. You can be honest with yourself and comprehend the truthful reasons for your behavior. However, other individuals are complicated. You have no idea about their lives apart from what they show you or tell.
To live well with others, you need to take a few steps to reduce this bias. This will make you a better manager or a team player in the workplace.
An example of a fundamental attribution error
A good example is how people tend to make some internal attributions blaming the victim. This may be warranted or not, but it does happen anyway. When blaming or giving sympathy to someone, it causes dissonance. It is possible and easy to hold the affected person as the cause of their pain. Common phrases such as she went looking for trouble or he knew it would end this way are just some of the sad examples of fundamental attribution error.
Do not overlook the Good
Some times when a person behaves below expectations, you tend to forget their competent attributes. Good leaders or managers are advised to think about the positive things about an individual and appreciate them. This gives you some time to reflect and help you evaluate the person as a whole.
Practice Emotional Intelligence
When reacting to poor behavior displayed by another person, you should be conscious of what you are telling them. Avoid emotional outbursts that could be triggered by anger, hatred, or insensitivity. You have to be objective when dealing with others to avoid conflict or misunderstanding, which can break relationships. The best thing is to talk to these individuals, learn more about them, and try to establish why they behave like that. In short, do not be hasty to judge.
Practice Empathy
Empathy is essential for you to understand why others are behaving the way they do. You should know the situations that can happen to anyone. Avoid making errors like fundamental attribution error because it makes you a poor manager. When you are aware of such mistakes, you can measure your words and be slow to critic negatively. Attacking one’s character can spiral into irreconcilable differences very fast.
Effects of Fundamental Attribution Error
Fundamental attribution error affects us daily. These could be small things we say about the behavior of others or life-changing words you utter emotionally. If you try hard, you can get rid of a fundamental attribution error, but you have to understand how it affects you and the situations that put you at risk. Once you know this, you can be self-conscious about the triggers and control them.
Fundamental attribution error affects us daily. These could be small things we say about the behavior of others or life-changing words you utter emotionally. If you try hard, you can get rid of a fundamental attribution error, but you have to understand how it affects you and the situations that put you at risk. Once you know this, you can be self-conscious about the triggers and control them.
Workplace
Employees strive to be recognized in the workplace, hoping to be promoted and earn more. When they continue working and they receive tongue lashes for every little thing they fail, but get nothing for achieving set targets, they unrecognized. This means that fundamental attribution error can lead to dissatisfaction among employees. Managers should be conscious of this and handle each situation carefully.
Tips for Workplace
- Practice empathy
- Be a leader who others can look up to with your actions
- Be emotionally intelligent
- Communicate accurately and choose a professional language
- Do not be hasty to judge
- Avoid talking your employees down.
Family or at Home
If you have a family, you know that there are good times and bad ones too. Sometimes your family member can display behavior that makes you angry or embarrassed. It is easy to blame their character and tell them hurtful things. Fundamental attribution error can cause hurt and heartbreaking moments in a home. You should practice control.
Tips for Home
- Nurture respect among family members
- Create boundaries
- Have an open communication policy in the home
- Make everyone feel appreciated by allowing them to learn from mistakes.
Friends & Strangers
Fundamental attribution error can blind you from seeing the real situation, especially with strangers. When judging others, or people you do not know, do let the behavior misguide you. It could be the tip of the iceberg. There are many things in the life of these people that you do understand. You can be patient with them, but the most effective way is to listen to them.
Tips with Strangers
- Listen to their story
- Please encourage them to seek relevant help from professionals
- Avoid gossiping friends because of their behavior
- Try to understand and not think the worst of people.
You will have to work on your judgmental attitude. It begins with the way you think and what you say. Every situation requires you to handle it uniquely. It can be tiring, but the results are impressive.
Critical Evaluation
Fundamental attribution error is no universal and something you will find in equal amounts in various cultures. For example, when Indians and Americans are compared, their fundamental attribution bias is not the same. Americans tend to judge every situation as they observe it while Indians base their explanations on specific situations. A society where one is raised influences their achievements and uniqueness. It shapes their character and how they make attributions. Bottom line is fundamental attribution error will always be there, whether it’s caused by your social background or individual character. But where you raised and things fed to your brain as you grow will always play a role in all your attributions.