Blog #2 FAE

The fundamental attribution error occurs when an individual attributes another's behavior to their traits and personality rather than taking the situation into account (Ross, 1977). I know that I have made the fundamental attribution error several times, but the time that stands out most in my mind was the day that I met my best-friend. I had just moved to Texas and was visiting a church for the first time. It was a very small congregation and my family was immediately greeted by the pastor and his youngest daughter, Becca. Once she heard that I was new in town, Becca grabbed my arm, led me to a bench, and assaulted me with tons of questions. All of her questions and her overly bubbly personality immediately led me to believe that she was too perky and intrusive for us to ever be friends. I never paid her much attention after that and focused my attention on meeting other people and finding friends that better matched my personality. My family continued to attend that church and Becca and I were weekly church friends, but it wasn't until much later (I'm talking three years later) that we became best-friends. It was during a summer camp that I was able to sit down and spend some real quality time with her; we have been best-friends ever since. I found out later that it was her job in the youth group to take new people aside, get to know them, and then fill out a card with all of their information. My impression of her being perky and bubble was not entirely incorrect because her being an open and friendly person made her perfect for the job. I had just made some wrong assumptions and never bothered to get to know her after that. 

Ross, L. (1977). The intuitive psychologist and his shortcomings: Distortions in the attribution process. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 10, pp. 174-221). New York: Academic Press.