Rather than mention the minimal effort he had put into the assignment, Jeremy told his manager that he lost the client because it was the wrong time of year to ask for new business. Jeremy attributed his failure to an external factor which is an example of
A) the halo principle.
B) self-serving bias.
C) the contrast effect.
D) the Pollyanna principle.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of self-serving bias, where Jeremy is attributing his failure to an external factor (time of year) rather than taking responsibility for his own minimal effort in the assignment. This allows him to maintain a positive self-image and avoid feelings of guilt or inadequacy.

Rather Than Mention the Minimal Effort He Had Put into the Assignment