AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -In other words, actors explain their own behavior differently than how an observer would explain the same behavior. Example: Actor-observer bias As you are walking down the street, you trip and fall. You immediately blame the slippery pavement, an external cause.

Detailed explanation-2: -For instance, if you’ve ever chastised a “lazy employee” for being late to a meeting and then proceeded to make an excuse for being late yourself that same day, you’ve made the fundamental attribution error. The fundamental attribution error exists because of how people perceive the world.

Detailed explanation-3: -Observer bias is when the results of an experiment are influenced by a researcher’s expectations. For example, If you expect that a certain place will be dirty and smelly, you might be more likely to notice trash or bad smells than if you expected the place to be clean and pleasant.

Detailed explanation-4: -We can use the observer effect to our benefit. If we want to change a behavior, finding some way to ensure someone else observes it can be effective. For instance, going to the gym with a friend means they know if we don’t go, making it more likely that we stick with it.