Trait ascription bias, also known as the fundamental attribution error, refers to the tendency of individuals to attribute another person’s behavior to their character or personality traits, rather than considering the situational factors that may have influenced their actions. This phenomenon has been extensively studied in the field of social psychology and has significant implications for our understanding of human behavior and interactions. In this essay, we will explore the meaning and impact of trait ascription bias, its underlying causes, and its effects on individuals and society as a whole.
Trait ascription bias is the tendency for people to view themselves as relatively variable in terms of personality, behavior and mood while viewing others as much more predictable in their personal traits across different situations. This may be because our own internal states are much more observable and available to us than those of others.
This attributional bias has an obvious role in the formation and maintenance of stereotypes and prejudice, combined with the negativity effect. A similar bias on the group level is called the outgroup homogeneity bias.