After reading a newspaper article about teenagers who illegally download music from the Internet, you conclude that those who engage in such behavior are morally bankrupt. It never occurs to you that the reason teenagers download music from the Internet is because they are not able to afford the price of a compact disc, or the temptation to download, coupled with the peer pressure to do so, is often great. Your thinking on this matter can be characterized by the

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is when we overemphasize dispositional explanations for other people's behavior instead of considering situational factors. In this case, the person is assuming that the teenagers who illegally download music are morally bankrupt instead of considering the situational factors that may be contributing to their behavior, such as financial constraints or peer pressure.

After Reading a Newspaper Article About Teenagers Who Illegally Download