In her debate class, Min was assigned to give a "pro-life" speech on abortion. Before her speech, the teacher told everyone that Min 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 Min about her true attitude.
B) be evenly divided on whether Min is pro-life or pro-choice.
C) be biased to think that Min is truly pro-choice.
D) be biased to think that Min is truly pro-life.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error suggests that people tend to overemphasize dispositional (internal) explanations for behavior rather than situational (external) explanations. In this case, the other students are likely to attribute Min's pro-life stance to her true beliefs, rather than the assigned position. Therefore, they are biased to think that Min is truly pro-life (choice D).

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