Julie sees a stranger do poorly on a test. She automatically assumes that the stranger is stupid. She has committed an error best thought of as:
A) a context effect
B) an attitude heuristic
C) a representative heuristic
D) fundamental attribution error

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Julie's assumption about the stranger's intelligence based on a single observation of performance is an example of the fundamental attribution error. This error involves overestimating the influence of personality or disposition and underestimating the influence of situational factors on someone's behavior.

Julie Sees a Stranger Do Poorly on a Test