You observe someone from your psychology class at the grocery store get angry and yell at the cashier. Which of these attributions illustrates the fundamental attribution error?

A) the student is a mean, angry person
B) the cashier is overworked
C) the student has had a bad day
D) the cashier has had a bad day

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to attribute others' behaviors to their character or personality, while underestimating situational factors.

Dispositional Causes

Attributes an individual's behavior to their internal characteristics or personality traits rather than external environmental factors.

Situational Attributions

Situational attributions refer to the process of ascribing the cause of an individual's behavior to external factors, circumstances, or situations.