Why do we blame the people in the mistakes of others, and in their - the circumstances
Forming / / December 19, 2019
Kitty Genovese (Kitty Genovese) was killedThirty-eight Witnesses: The Kitty Genovese Case middle of the street in a residential area of New York. The offender tortured victim half an hour, and none of the 38 witnesses, not only did not help her, but did not even call the police.
Hurrying to discuss the biblical parable about helping people, only 10% of students of the seminary stoppedFrom Jerusalem to Jericho: A study of Situational and Dispositional Variables in Helping BehaviorTo help a sick person. Others simply walked past.
In the experiment,BEHAVIORAL STUDY OF OBEDIENCE social psychologist Stanley Milgram (Stanley Milgram) «teachers' thought punish" students "electric shocks for wrong answers, and gradually increase the intensity. 65% of participants reached 450 volts, despite the fact that the actors playing the "disciples", depicted the suffering and "teachers" saw how bad it.
All these people - and damn sadistic bastards indifferent? Not at all.
murder witnesses Kitty knew that her screams heard everything, and thought that somebody probably already called the police. Students hurried to the lecture: in the second group, where participants were given more time, helped the patient to 63%. In the experiment, Milgram ordered to punish people "disciples" shock and they just obey orders.
Rather, in these circumstances, you would have done exactly the same. People are very influenced by the situation, but it is not obvious when you look at the event from the observer's position.
Their actions we justify the situation, and in other people's affairs circumstances often behind the scenes, so criticism exposed person. This phenomenon is called the fundamental attribution error, and we are constantly confronted with it in everyday life.
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What is the essence of the phenomenon
Fundamental attribution errorFundamental Attribution Error It occurs when a person underestimates the impact of the situation on the behavior of other people and overestimates the contribution of their identity.
In 1967, this feature was found in a psychological experimentThe Attribution of Attitudes. Students were asked to write an essay about Fidel Castro. One was told to write a positive review in support of the Cuban leader, the other - negative. After the presentation of the essay of people from the audience asked how much each student supports the views expressed in his work.
Of course, the audience felt that, if the author writes about Fidel is well, he supports it, and if not - do not. But when the researchers explained that in fact the choice, either positively or negatively respond to Castro, has not been granted, the picture has not changed. Yes, the audience realized that the students were forced to write that way, but still it seemed to them that the authors at least a few agree with the position set out in the essay.
In 1977, psychologist Lee Ross (Lee Ross) gaveThe Correspondence Bias this phenomenon is called the "fundamental attribution error."
An error corrupts our lives
Fundamental attribution error to blame in many domestic quarrels and incorrect conclusions. For example, young a pair of quarrelingBecause they have different views on a weekend.
The girl wants to go out and have fun with friends and blames the guy that he is "inert and boring" because he prefers to sit on the couch and watch movies.
At the same time the working day, the girl goes home, where she sits alone in front of the computer, and the work of Man includes physical activity and chat with many people. Tired of the week, both want to change, and lack of attention to the situation leads to quarrels and accusations.
Because of this error, we think bad about people and discriminate against strangers, pounce on the innocent and quarrels with friends and family. A bit of reflection and attention to detail could prevent many conflicts. Why do we keep so strictly to judge others?
Study question👇
- Why do we think that our emotions are obvious to others
What makes us strictly to judge others, but not himself
Scientists have identified a number of mechanisms, guilty of this error.
perception Features
From the point of view of the observer person always brighterFundamental Attribution Error and more important than its surroundings. The circumstances in which the incident occurs, is often perceived as the background and are not counted. When a man acts himself, he does not see himself from the outside, but sees his surroundings. Therefore, participants in the events primarily evaluates what is happening around, and the observer - making party.
The view that all men think alike
In order to properly assess whether the behavior is determined by the individual, and how - the situation, you need to know not only the facts, but also the way they are perceived by participants in the events.
It seems that everyone is looking at the world in the same way as we do. In fact, people's reactions to the same event can vary greatly.
For example, if a person is silent in your company, you may decide that it is closed. In fact, he is a very sociable, you just do it do not like. But I realize it is difficult, because you perceive yourself differently.
Trying to control life
Our life is corrected and sent a lot of circumstances, ranging from education and ending with random events. However, always remember about the unpredictability of the real world - a sure way to slip into depression. Therefore, we would like to think that we have complete control over their lives.
This mechanism has a side effect: we do not consider the situation in which a person is really in no way to blame.
It causes people to blame the victimsAssignment of responsibility for an accident accidents and violencePerceptions of stranger and acquaintance rape: the role of benevolent and hostile sexism in victim blame and rape proclivity"Own fault", "I had to behave more cautiously," "You yourself wanted this." So people psychologically protected from the terrible thought that at any moment it can happen to them, with matter, they will provide for something or not.
cultural characteristics
In the West celebrated the independence and individuality of each person, in the East - a community of people and their interaction in the team. Therefore, the fundamental attribution error in the western countries is strongerFundamental Attribution Error : Once a man in control of his life, all events in it are not accidental. He gets what he deserves.
In the East, they pay more attention to the public, so they can evaluate not only the personal qualities, but also the situation in which he found himself.
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How to overcome the error
Overcoming the fundamental attribution error - this is a step in the direction of love for people. In this way you can help:
- Awareness. We draw conclusions about others automatically based on their experience and expectations. Conscious approach requires time and mental effort, so people are more susceptible to this distortion when too tired to think about someone else's circumstances. Before you stick a label on a person, think about what could make him do so.
- Belief in the case. Yes, people are responsible for their lives, but can not anticipate everything. A person can not just get lucky.
- Sensitivity. Always allow the possibility that there is something you do not know. People can make mistakes because of traumatic events in the past or the present, poor physical condition - hunger, stress, hormonal fluctuations, lack of sleep. Man often does not understand what is happening to them, what can we say about the strangers.
Of course, only you decide how to relate to the behavior of other people, especially if you have done some damage. Just remember that in addition to personal qualities, there is also the impact of the situation in which you may have received as well.
see also🧐
- 30 errors of thinking, because we live on a template
- The trap of thinking: why are we afraid of terrorist attacks, but crossing the road on red light
- Why we do not judge the winners, even if they do badly