Fundamental Attribution Error: This Cognitive Bias Destroys Relationships
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This is the first in a series that will give short summaries of the most useful and universal mental models in the world. Follow our Accelerated Intelligence publication if you’d like to see the other articles as they come out.
If you’d like to learn more about mental models in general, read This Is Exactly How You Should Train Yourself To Be Smarter [Infographic]
Definition Of Fundamental Attribution Error
The Fundamental Attribution Error states that when we try to explain other people’s bad behavior, we tend to overemphasize their personality and underemphasize the situation they were in. This leaves people feeling unappreciated and destroys relationships.
For example, if a team member at work makes a mistake, we’re more likely to attribute it to their personality, character, or skill level. However, if we make the same mistake, we’re more likely to attribute it to the situation (i.e., we were rushing, felt tired, or it was someone else’s fault).
While this might make sense on an abstract level, you’re probably wondering, “So why does this matter? What are the implications in my life?”
Let’s explore this…
