If a friend of yours does poorly on this exam and you conclude that he is not really good at psychology, you are basing your explanation on
A)a primacy effect
B)the fundamental attribution error
C)a self-serving bias
D)a recency effect
E)polarization

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors in judging others' behavior. In this case, concluding that a friend is not good at psychology based on one poor exam performance overlooks potential situational factors (e.g., a bad day, difficult exam conditions) and attributes the performance solely to the friend's abilities.

If a Friend of Yours Does Poorly on This Exam