Effects of a Self-Distancing Perspective on the Fundamental Attribution Error: An Attempt at De-Biasing
Year: 2011
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This study aimed to attenuate the fundamental attribution error (FAE) by inducing a selfdistanced perspective in participants.Participants' perspectives were manipulated by having them write an essay in either the third-person (self-distanced), the first-person (immersed), or with no instructions (control group 1).A second control group was used in which participants did not write at all.I hypothesized that priming a self-distanced perspective would reduce expression of the fundamental attribution error when rating the true opinions of authors who are directed to take a specific point of view on a controversial topic.A significant decrease in the expression of the FAE was found between the self-distanced groups on the one hand and the immersed, no instruction, and no-writing groups on the other for participants who read essays written by people directed to write essays supporting President Obama.
Author: Alex Goldberg
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W186757495