Lily was hurt at work. Lily's manager concluded that Lily was careless and clumsy. Lily's manager may have committed a ____________ error

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question presents a scenario where Lily was hurt at work and the manager concluded that Lily was careless and clumsy. This reflects an attribution made about Lily’s behavior.

In social psychology, the fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to attribute others’ behaviors to their dispositions or personality traits (internal factors) while underestimating situational explanations (external factors). Here, labeling Lily as careless and clumsy assigns her personal characteristics as the cause of the incident, rather than considering possible external factors such as a hazardous task, a momentary lapse due to fatigue, lack of safety training, equipment problems, or a stressful environment that contributed to the event.

Analyzing the scenario through this lens:
- The manager’s inference focuses on Lily’s character (careless, clumsy) rather than evaluating the situational context or external constraints that might have contributed to the injury.
- This aligns with the hallmark of the fundamental attribution error: overemphasizing internal causes for someone else’s behavior while underappreciating external influences.

If we were to contrast with an external attribution, the manager might consider factors such as: the design of the workspace, inadequate safety protocols, insufficient staffing leading to rushing, or a recently introduced tool that was hard to use, any of which could increase the likelihood of accidents independent of Lily’s character.

In summary, the described manager’s judgment best exemplifies a fundamental attribution error because it attributes the incident to Lily’s supposed personal traits rather than considering situational contributors. This misattribution is exactly what the fundamental attribution error describes in social cognition.

BUSMHR 3200 SU2025 (2864) Social Perceptions

Lily was hurt at work. Lily's manager concluded that Lily was careless and clumsy. Lily's manager may have committed a ____________ error

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BUSMHR 3200 SU2025 (2864) Social Perceptions

Lily was hurt at work. Lily's manager concluded that Lily was careless and clumsy. Lily's manager may have committed a ____________ error

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

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You hear that your neighbor's eight-year old son, Billy, was involved in a fight at recess. You don't know Billy very well, and, as you try to explain his behavior, you commit the Fundamental Attribution Error when you say __________________________________.

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