What describes the fundamental attribution error?

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency for individuals to overemphasize personality traits and underestimate situational factors when interpreting the behaviors of others. This cognitive bias occurs when we make internal attributions about other people's actions, attributing their behavior to their character or disposition rather than considering the context in which the behavior occurs.

The correct choice accurately reflects this phenomenon by highlighting how we tend to attribute the behaviors of others to their character while simultaneously attributing our own actions to external or situational factors. For instance, if someone fails to arrive on time, we might conclude that they are irresponsible (an internal attribution), whereas if we ourselves are late, we might justify it by saying it was due to traffic or an unexpected delay (an external attribution).

This discrepancy in attribution emphasizes our tendency to protect our self-image while being judgmental towards others. In contrast, the other choices do not capture this specific aspect of attribution errors, which is essential for understanding the fundamental attribution error's implications in social psychology.