Tristan's parents had limited resources. They barely had enough money to cover the monthly bills and pay Tristan's tuition fees. Because of this, Tristan could never pitch in for a classmate's birthday present or for an outing with his friends. His peers, who were unaware of his situation, thought he was a miser and that he had a taciturn nature. The tendency to explain Tristan's behavior in dispositional rather than situational terms is an example of ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to attribute someone's behavior to their personality or disposition rather than to the situation they are in. In Tristan's case, his peers attributed his inability to contribute financially to being miserly (a dispositional attribute) rather than considering his financial situation (a situational factor).

Tristan's Parents Had Limited Resources