Chapter 4: Perceiving Persons

Part 2: Feb. 14, 2012

Attribution Theories (cont.)• 2) Kelly’s Covariation theory:– Attribute behavior to internal (person) or external

(situation) based on 3 questions –• 1. Consensus

• 2. Distinctiveness

• 3. Consistency

• See fig 4.4

• If low distinctiveness & low consensus, but high consistency, which attribution? – Example?

• If high distinctiveness & high consensus, but low consistency, which attribution?– Example?

Biases: Attribution Biases• 1) Attribution Biases– What are heuristics?

• A) Availability heuristic

– i) Can lead to false consensus

– ii) Can lead to baserate fallacy

– iii) Linked to counterfactual thinking • Regret over what we might have done• Olympic results example:

• 2) Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE):– What is it?

– 2-step model:

Examples & Sources of the FAE• Example –

• Sources of FAE:– 1) Actor-observer difference. What is it?

– 2) Time perspective –

– 3) Cultural differences –

Biases: Motivational Biases

• 2) Motivational Biases– A) Self-serving biases

• Influence of need for self-esteem

• Belief in a just world

– B) Belief in a Just World• How does it work?

• Effects on how we view others, especially victims?

– Why might we ‘enhance’ victims?

Biases: Confirmation Biases• 3) Confirmation Biases– A) Belief Perseverance - search for confirming

evidence• “On Being Sane in Insane Places” example

• What do we do with disconfirming evidence?

• Remedy ?

• B) Self-fulfilling prophecy –– Expectations can lead to fulfillment• Pygmalion in the classroom – what are the results?

– Rosenthal’s (1968) study – automatic process» 4 ways ‘bloomers’ were treated differently:

– Differences between experiments on SFP and reality?