Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The tendency to blame victims of social discrimination or harmful actions for the negative outcomes they experience, rather than attributing these outcomes to external factors.
Making assumptions about individuals based on preconceived notions about their social group.
Attribution bias: The tendency to attribute people's behavior to internal characteristics rather than considering situational factors.
Cognitive dissonance: Feeling discomfort when our beliefs or attitudes conflict with our actions, leading us to try and justify or rationalize our behavior.