Written Assignment

Written Assignment

Fundamental Attribution error

The fundamental attribution error is commonly known as a cognitive bias that comes under the social psychology. Basically, it placed a special emphasis on the internal personality characteristic that derives a person's behavior in a given situation, rather than thinking about the external situational factors. Some people make argument that cognitive bias is the root principle of social psychology. The main highlight of the fundamental attribution error is that people tend to consider their behavior in a different way as compared to other people behavior in the similar situation.

For instance, one can imagine that a person walking down the crowded sidewalk carrying loads of shopping bags. Suddenly, a person bumped into him, possible chances are that he would think 'what an idiot, he can't even see nor having respect of others'. These are the thoughts that will rise immediately based on the situational factors but the individual fail to realize that may be someone else pushed that person or may be the bags taking too much space that it would not be easy for the person to cross him. Therefore, to avoid the fundamental attribution error, the best way is to 'put oneself in the other's person shoes', thus by thinking on this a person could understand properly the situational factors and also avoid the fundamental attribution error (Wise Geek, 2013).

Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance has a direct impact on the people who experiencing dissonance or discomfort, normally in those situations where there behavior and attitudes are not consistent. Therefore, a general observation is that people try to reduce their dissonance by bringing their attitudes in accordance with their behavior. For example, normally when people smoke (which is a behavior) and also they know that smoking is the source of cancer (which is cognition). As ...