In her debate class,Mischa was assigned to give a "pro-life" speech on abortion.Before her speech,the teacher told everyone that Mischa had been assigned to take this position,regardless of her true beliefs.Research on the fundamental attribution error suggests that,after class,the other students will
A) not form a judgment without asking Mischa about her true attitude.
B) be evenly divided on whether Mischa is pro-life or pro-choice.
C) be biased to think that Mischa is truly pro-choice.
D) be biased to think that Mischa is truly pro-life.

Question

In her debate class,Mischa was assigned to give a "pro-life" speech on abortion.Before her speech,the teacher told everyone that Mischa had been assigned to take this position,regardless of her true beliefs.Research on the fundamental attribution error suggests that,after class,the other students will
A) not form a judgment without asking Mischa about her true attitude.
B) be evenly divided on whether Mischa is pro-life or pro-choice.
C) be biased to think that Mischa is truly pro-choice.
D) be biased to think that Mischa is truly pro-life.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error suggests that people tend to overestimate the influence of personal factors (such as beliefs and personality) and underestimate the influence of situational factors (such as assignments and circumstances) when interpreting someone's behavior. In this scenario, the other students are likely to attribute Mischa's pro-life speech to her true beliefs rather than to her assigned position, leading them to believe that she is truly pro-life. Therefore, choice D is the best answer.

In Her Debate Class,Mischa Was Assigned to Give a "Pro-Life