Light

Actor-Observer Bias

Definition

Actor-observer bias refers to the tendency of people to attribute their own actions to external causes while attributing other people's behaviors to internal factors.

Analogy

Think about when you trip over something. You might blame it on an uneven sidewalk (external cause), but if someone else trips, you might think they're just clumsy (internal factor). That’s actor-observer bias!

Related terms

Fundamental Attribution Error: This is when people tend to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors in judging others' behavior. Like blaming someone for being late without considering possible traffic jams they could have encountered.

Self-Serving Bias: The habit of a person taking credit for positive events or outcomes, but blaming outside factors for negative events. It's like a student taking credit for an A on a test but blaming the teacher for a failing grade.

Hindsight Bias: This is when people believe they knew the outcome of an event after it has already happened. Like saying "I knew it all along" after the result is revealed.