Micah has just witnessed an auto accident. Several weeks ago he was in an auto accident himself. In trying to figure out who is at fault for the accident, it is likely that Micah will avoid
A) a confirmation bias.
B) the fundamental attribution error.
C) a self-serving bias.
D) cognitive dissonance.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize dispositional (personality) explanations for someone's behavior and to underemphasize situational factors. In this case, Micah may be tempted to assume that one driver is at fault due to their disposition or personality traits, when in reality there may have been situational factors that contributed to the accident. Micah's recent experience with an auto accident may make him more aware of the importance of considering situational factors.

Micah Has Just Witnessed an Auto Accident