Ultimate attribution error

Chart describing the ultimate attribution error, with an example

The ultimate attribution error is an attribution error made when making in-group and out-group attributions. The error occurs when attributions of outgroup behavior are more negative and attributions of ingroup behavior are more positive.[1][2] As a cognitive bias, the error results in negative outgroup behavior being more likely to be attributed to factors internal and specific to the actor, such as personality, and the attribution of negative ingroup behavior to external factors such as luck or circumstance.[1] The bias reinforces negative stereotypes and prejudice about the outgroup and favouritism of the ingroup through positive stereotypes.[3] The theory also extends to the bias that positive acts performed by ingroup members are more likely a result of their personality.[4] The Ultimate attribution error is an example of a cognitive bias that shows cross cultural differences, showing up more strongly for individuals in Western cultures than Eastern Cultures.[5]

Four categories have been identified that describe the negative attribution of positive outgroup behaviour. First, that the outgroup member is an exception to a general rule; second, that the member was lucky or had specific advantages; third, that the member was highly motivated; and lastly that the behaviour as attributable to situational causes.[3]

The concept and term originates in an article by Thomas F. Pettigrew in 1979 as an extension of the fundamental attribution error which was identified in 1958.[1][6] Since its publication, which at the time lacked a strong empirical basis, there has been some support for the theory.[1] The specific categorisation originally proposed had only some empirical support for broader categories of motivational and cognitive attribution.[1] [7] The bias is related to intergroup attribution bias.[7][8]

  1. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference Hewstone 1990 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Coleman, Martin D. (2013). "Emotion and the Ultimate Attribution Error". Current Psychology. 32 (1): 71–81. doi:10.1007/s12144-013-9164-7. ISSN 1046-1310.
  3. ^ a b Stangor, Charles; Jhangiani, Rajiv; Tarry, Hammond (2022). Principles of Social Psychology (1st international H5P ed.).
  4. ^ Hewstone, M. (1989). Causal attribution: From cognitive processes to collective beliefs. Basil: Blackwell.
  5. ^ Ma-Kellams, Christine (2020). "Cultural variation and similarities in cognitive thinking styles versus judgment biases: A review of environmental factors and evolutionary forces". Review of General Psychology. 24 (3): 238–253. doi:10.1177/1089268019901270. ISSN 1089-2680.
  6. ^ Pettigrew, T. F. (1979). "The ultimate attribution error: Extending Allport's cognitive analysis of prejudice". Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 5 (4): 461–476. doi:10.1177/014616727900500407. S2CID 144300903.
  7. ^ a b Ma, Weijun; Feng, Rui; Lu, Binglei; Xie, Qiang; Jiang, Lianxiong; Liu, Xiting (19 December 2018). "The reducing effect of positive imagined intergroup contact on intergroup attributional bias". Journal of Applied Social Psychology. 49 (3): 168–177. doi:10.1111/jasp.12573. ISSN 0021-9029. S2CID 150969513.
  8. ^ Hewstone, Miles; Rubin, Mark; Willis, Hazel (February 2002). "Intergroup Bias". Annual Review of Psychology. 53 (1): 575–604. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135109. ISSN 0066-4308. PMID 11752497. S2CID 11830211.