Sheila shows up for a blind date with her hair disheveled and her clothes a mess. Her date, Jamal, thinks, "She must be a total slob!" Jamal's thought about Sheila is an example of __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jamal's assumption about Sheila's sloppiness based solely on her appearance is an example of the fundamental attribution error, which is the tendency to overemphasize dispositional factors (such as personality or character) and underestimate situational factors when explaining someone's behavior.

Sheila Shows Up for a Blind Date with Her Hair