When Derek successfully completes a pass during a football game, he congratulates himself for his athletic skill. However, when he is unsuccessful at completing a pass, he attributes his failure to a wet football. This pattern of attributions BEST illustrates _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This pattern of attributions is an example of a self-serving bias, where Derek takes credit for his success but blames external factors for his failure, in order to maintain a positive self-image. The false consensus effect refers to the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our attitudes and beliefs. The false uniqueness effect refers to the tendency to underestimate the extent to which others share our abilities and talents. A self-fulfilling prophecy is when one's beliefs and expectations lead to behaviors that actually make the prediction come true.

When Derek Successfully Completes a Pass During a Football Game