Thinking Traps

Moral, Political, and Workplace Biases

Attribution bias

Misreading causes of behavior or performance.

What Is Attribution bias?

Attribution bias is a thinking trap where misreading causes of behavior or performance.

How It Tricks You

It can turn partial social evidence into a confident judgment about people, motives, or groups.

Real-World Example

A missed deadline is blamed on laziness before workload is considered.

Seen Online As

What To Ask Instead

What context affected the outcome?

Related Thinking Traps

Common Situations

Quick FAQ

What is Attribution bias?

Misreading causes of behavior or performance.

What is an example of Attribution bias?

A missed deadline is blamed on laziness before workload is considered.

How do I spot Attribution bias?

What context affected the outcome?