Fundamental attribution error

What is fundamental attribution error?

The fundamental attribution error (FAE) is a concept in social psychology that describes our tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors in judging others' behavior.

In simple terms, it's our inclination to attribute people's actions more to their personality or disposition and less to their circumstances or environment.

For example, let's say you're driving and someone cuts you off. Your immediate reaction might be to label the driver as reckless or inconsiderate. This is the FAE in action — you're attributing the person's behavior to their inherent traits, overlooking possible situational factors like they might be rushing to the hospital or dealing with an emergency.