Disproportionately

Definition

When a psychologist disproportionately attributes a client's behavior to internal characteristics, it means they are giving excessive weight or emphasis on the individual's personal traits or qualities as the main cause of their actions, while neglecting or downplaying external factors that may have influenced their behavior.

Related terms

Confirmation Bias:

The tendency to interpret information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or expectations. For example, if a psychologist has a bias towards attributing behavior to internal characteristics, they might selectively focus on evidence that supports this view and ignore contradictory evidence.

Fundamental Attribution Error:

The tendency to overestimate the influence of internal characteristics and underestimate the impact of situational factors when explaining other people's behavior. This error can lead psychologists to disproportionately attribute behavior solely to personal traits without considering external circumstances.

Self-Serving Bias:

A cognitive bias where individuals tend to attribute positive outcomes to their own internal characteristics (e.g., skills, abilities) but blame negative outcomes on external factors beyond their control. Psychologists should be cautious not to disproportionately attribute all successes or failures solely to an individual's personal qualities.