PSYCHOLOGY

Fundamental Attribution Error and Culture

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of “Fundamental Attribution Error and Culture” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on “Culture” and its relation with “Fundamental Attribution Error”. The research also analyzes many aspects of “Culture” and tries to gauge its effect on “Fundamental Attribution Error”. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for “Fundamental Attribution Error” and tries to describe the overall effect of “Fundamental Attribution Error” on “cultural patterns prevalent in a society”.

Table of Contents

Abstractii

Fundamental Attribution Error and Culture1

Introduction1

Defining Culture1

Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)1

Culture and Fundamental Attribution Error5

References7

Fundamental Attribution Error and Culture

Introduction

For this paper, we shall discuss and identify how can a person's culture, traditions and values can be impact and influence a person's psychology, attitude and behavior of people living in the society.

Defining Culture

To understand the collaboration that prevails between cultures on an international level between two or more countries, it is necessary to understand what kind of culture does a country have or has adopted over the period of time. Culture is defined a set of customs, norms, traditions and ceremonies that have been practiced unanimously by the public and the people of the country and that have been passed on from generation to generation. The beliefs, vision, objectives and business approaches and practices underpinning a company's strategy towards team development may be compatible with its culture or they may not. When they are, the culture becomes a valuable ally in strategy implementation and execution.

Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)

Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE) is defined as that condition or attempt of titling people on the accounts of their personalities instead of analyzing situations and circumstances under which a circumstance prevails. The fundamental attribution error (FAE), sometimes called actor-observer asymmetry or over attribution, is the general tendency of an observer to perceive another person's behavior to be caused by internal, personal characteristics or dispositions, rather than external, situational influences. Conversely, the behaving person (the actor) tends to see his or her own behavior as caused by the situation. The concept of FAE grew out of an extensive body of research on social perception and cognition, and in turn the idea has stimulated much research. There may even be attributional thinking in primates. In human beings, this well-established observer overemphasis on personal traits and under emphasis on context raises serious questions about bias in many situations in which people judge other people, such as jury decisions, voting for political candidates, and clinical assessment and treatment (Jones & Harris, 1967).

This prominent tendency to over attribute internal causes had been recognized by early social psychologists, such as Fritz Heider in 1958, as an actor-observer effect, and in further research Lee Ross in 1977 gave FAE its name. Typical experiments might involve judging statements allegedly made by persons under various conditions, or comparing subjects' explanations for their own choices and the choices made by others. Subjects might report causes of actions while viewing themselves or another person on ...