June 9, 2010
Fundamental Attribution Error
Warning – psychology babble coming your way from Fast Company. I encounter this effect often with clients:
That judgment is what’s called, in psychology, the Fundamental Attribution Error. Meaning that we tend to attribute people’s behavior to their core character rather than to their situation. So when somebody cuts you off in traffic, you think, “What a jerk!” You don’t think, “I wonder situation he’s in that’s causing him to drive so crazy.” Even though in those times when YOU have driven crazily, it was almost certainly because of the situation you were in—you were late for a job interview or a date.
May I make a suggestion? The use of assessments introduces objective measurement into the situation which helps to limit fundamental attribution error. Limiting subjectivity generally leads to better hiring especially with salespeople.
