Making excuses for problems (blaming something else) reflects a
A) fundamental attribution error.
B) self-serving bias.
C) halo effect.
D) self-handicapping strategy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Making excuses and blaming something else is a typical manifestation of the self-serving bias, which refers to the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to oneself and negative outcomes to external factors. The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to overemphasize dispositional, internal factors when explaining others' behavior. The halo effect is the tendency to believe that positive characteristics in one domain also extend to other unrelated domains. Self-handicapping is a deliberate strategy to minimize effort and protect one's self-esteem by creating excuses for potential failure.

Making Excuses for Problems (Blaming Something Else) Reflects a