Which of the following is a type of self-serving bias?

Study for the WGU C464 Introduction to Communication Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Self-serving bias refers to the tendency for individuals to attribute positive events to their own actions and negative events to external factors. This cognitive bias allows individuals to maintain or enhance their self-esteem by interpreting their experiences in a way that favors themselves.

The fundamental attribution error is indeed a type of self-serving bias because it deals specifically with the habit of overemphasizing personal characteristics and downplaying situational factors when explaining someone else's behavior. For example, when someone else fails a test, one might attribute it to their laziness or lack of intelligence rather than considering external factors like the difficulty of the test or personal circumstances that could have contributed to that failure. This leads individuals to view themselves more favorably compared to others, which is a hallmark of self-serving bias.

The other concepts listed do not encapsulate self-serving bias in the same way and do not represent commonly recognized categories of attribution error in psychological studies. Therefore, the association of the fundamental attribution error with self-serving bias highlights its role in shaping how we perceive ourselves in relation to others.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy