Read on Twitter
The Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE) is one of the most interesting and powerful cognitive biases.
While it exists to protect us, it often clouds our perception & prevents us from building meaningful relationships.
Fortunately, you can mitigate its impact on your life.
While it exists to protect us, it often clouds our perception & prevents us from building meaningful relationships.
Fortunately, you can mitigate its impact on your life.
1/ What is the FAE?
Have you ever seen someone driving on the road like a maniac? You wonder why he is such an angry and reckless person.
This is the FAE at work. It’s our tendency to associate people’s behavior with their personality and not the external events in their life.
Have you ever seen someone driving on the road like a maniac? You wonder why he is such an angry and reckless person.
This is the FAE at work. It’s our tendency to associate people’s behavior with their personality and not the external events in their life.
2/ What’s the problem?
Well, he may not be angry or reckless.
He may have just gotten a call that his wife is dying in the hospital and has minutes to live.
Instead of considering how the events in his life influence the behavior you’re seeing, you assume he’s an angry idiot.
Well, he may not be angry or reckless.
He may have just gotten a call that his wife is dying in the hospital and has minutes to live.
Instead of considering how the events in his life influence the behavior you’re seeing, you assume he’s an angry idiot.
3/ So what?
When you think someone is an angry person, you avoid them. Your chance at building a relationship is zero.
Instead of wondering how you can help or being empathetic to someone who is struggling, you go about your day thinking that people should be better.
When you think someone is an angry person, you avoid them. Your chance at building a relationship is zero.
Instead of wondering how you can help or being empathetic to someone who is struggling, you go about your day thinking that people should be better.
4/ The consequences
If you allow the FAE to cloud your perception, you’re more likely to form inaccurate impressions and beliefs about the people you encounter.
This bad cycle plays out in many situations – meeting new colleagues, going on dates, and interacting with friends.
If you allow the FAE to cloud your perception, you’re more likely to form inaccurate impressions and beliefs about the people you encounter.
This bad cycle plays out in many situations – meeting new colleagues, going on dates, and interacting with friends.
5/ What can you do?
Basic awareness about cognitive biases like the FAE does very little for you.
That’s because these biases are programmed into our brains. You can’t escape them.
But with the FAE, there are at least two actionable ways to mitigate its negative effects.
Basic awareness about cognitive biases like the FAE does very little for you.
That’s because these biases are programmed into our brains. You can’t escape them.
But with the FAE, there are at least two actionable ways to mitigate its negative effects.
6/ Seek to understand, not judge.
In life, you will encounter people with radically different behaviors and beliefs. It’s natural to pass judgment.
But often, people pull the judgment trigger too early.
You can combat this by attempting to first understand everyone you meet.
In life, you will encounter people with radically different behaviors and beliefs. It’s natural to pass judgment.
But often, people pull the judgment trigger too early.
You can combat this by attempting to first understand everyone you meet.
7/ Get curious
Instead of avoiding people with different political beliefs, ask them what they read, where they grew up, and why that belief is important to them.
Instead of labeling someone as arrogant, try to understand what’s driving their behavior.
Instead of avoiding people with different political beliefs, ask them what they read, where they grew up, and why that belief is important to them.
Instead of labeling someone as arrogant, try to understand what’s driving their behavior.
8/ Challenge yourself
Instead of attending a political rally for a cause that you and your friends will die for, go to an event supporting a cause you despise and talk to the supporters.
You’ll learn a lot more from people when you seek to understand, rather than judge them.
Instead of attending a political rally for a cause that you and your friends will die for, go to an event supporting a cause you despise and talk to the supporters.
You’ll learn a lot more from people when you seek to understand, rather than judge them.
9/ What can I learn from this person?
The 2nd tactic is adopting the idea that you can learn something from everyone you meet.
This principle helps you develop a genuine interest in other people, ask better questions, & learn from people with different backgrounds and beliefs.
The 2nd tactic is adopting the idea that you can learn something from everyone you meet.
This principle helps you develop a genuine interest in other people, ask better questions, & learn from people with different backgrounds and beliefs.
10/ Be open
Bankers can learn from janitors and janitors from bankers if both parties put their humility hats on.
You’ll be surprised by the wisdom that people keep locked up within and what they are willing to share with you if you are genuinely curious about their lives.
Bankers can learn from janitors and janitors from bankers if both parties put their humility hats on.
You’ll be surprised by the wisdom that people keep locked up within and what they are willing to share with you if you are genuinely curious about their lives.
11/ Final thoughts
Everyone is navigating the world the best they can.
So stop the hasty judgments.
Avoid the trap of letting the Fundamental Attribution Error prevent you from building meaningful relationships.
This alone will improve your life.
Everyone is navigating the world the best they can.
So stop the hasty judgments.
Avoid the trap of letting the Fundamental Attribution Error prevent you from building meaningful relationships.
This alone will improve your life.
