ultimate attribution error

the tendency for persons from one group (the ingroup) to determine that any bad acts by members of an outgroup—for example, a racial or ethnic minority group—are caused by internal attributes or traits rather than by outside circumstances or situations, while viewing their positive behaviors as merely exceptions to the rule or the result of luck. Conversely, ingroup members will overestimate the effects of their own perceived internal attributes—for example, intelligence—and underplay situational forces when evaluating their successes, and they will place more emphasis on external factors when explaining their failures or faults. See also fundamental attribution error; group-serving bias. [first described in 1979 by U.S. psychologist Thomas F. Pettigrew]

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Psychology term of the day

February 24th 2025

foster care

temporary care provided to children in settings outside their family of origin and by individuals other than their natural or adoptive parents. Foster care is intended to protect children whose parents are unavailable, abusive, or incapable of proper care, with the ultimate goal being to find a secure and permanent home. Typically, a child is placed with a family approved for foster care and paid a fee for such by a public child welfare agency. Although these foster home arrangements are most common, children may also be placed in group homes or institutions. See also adult foster care.