A fundamental human error
We have a problem.
By we, I mean humans. All of us, including you and me.
It’s so prevalent, that psychologists have an ominous name for it.
They call it the Fundamental Attribution Error, the FAE.
What kind of error is “fundamental” to being human?
It refers to our tendency to attribute another's actions to their character or personality while attributing our own behavior to external situational factors outside our control.
In other words, you tend to cut yourself a break while holding others 100% accountable for their actions.
The fast driver is a jerk, but when you do it, you’re in a rush.
The guy with the mask on his chin is a selfish, ignorant, anti-vaxxer wacko, but your nose itches.
The late employee is lazy, but you have too much on your plate, or a family emergency, or all sorts of things that have nothing to do with your character.
Think about the people in your life. You form a general impression of their character based on limited pieces of information from limited interactions, so how could you ever see the whole picture?
While you sometimes want to give them the benefit of the doubt, you are more likely to make quick judgments.
While we can never overcome FAE entirely, simply reminding yourself that we ALL suffer from it, before you speak, can go a long way towards listening, building empathy, and connecting with others.
