You and a friend are watching the news and hear a report about a murder in New York City, witnessed by dozens of bystanders-none of whom attempted to help the victim or even telephone the police. Your friend expresses utter disgust at this incident, remarking "People who live in big cities have no compassion for others. They lack fundamental decency-all they care about is themselves." Your friend's remark best reflects:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Your friend's remark reflects a dispositional view of the world, which attributes behavior to internal characteristics rather than external factors. Specifically, your friend is attributing the lack of compassion and decency to the people living in large cities as a trait inherent to them, rather than considering factors such as bystander effect, diffusion of responsibility, or fear of personal harm that may have affected their behavior in the specific situation.

You and a Friend Are Watching the News and Hear