Question

What is the definition of "fundamental attribution error" in psychology?

Answer 1

Fundamental Attribution Error states that one is generally biased toward making dispositional attributions (personality) rather than situational attributions to someone.

Explanation:

I will give you an example.

If I go to a store and see that I am not immediately approached by a sales representative who saw me walk in, I would think that it's in his personality that he did not ask for assistance; meaning the reason he didn't approach me is because he is a jerk and a rude person. I would not have attributed his behavior on the situation (he might have been busy, he was attending another customer, etc.)