Scientific Definition
We attribute our own actions to situations but others' actions to their character.
Plain-English Definition
We attribute our own actions to situations but others' actions to their character.
Feynman Explanation
I am late because of traffic. You are late because you are careless.
Core Principle
We attribute our own actions to situations but others' actions to their character.
Mechanisms
Pending editorial review.
We attribute our own actions to situations but others' actions to their character.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Performance reviews are riddled with this double standard.
Inputs (Triggers)
Pending editorial review.
Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
I am late because of traffic. You are late because you are careless.
Examples
- A missed deadline is 'context' for you and 'incompetence' for your colleague.
- Performance reviews are riddled with this double standard.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Force the same causal language for self and others.
Measurement Approaches
Pending editorial review.
Evidence
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
The Perverse Incentive Lens™
How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.
- Force the same causal language for self and others.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Interactive Mini Network
Click any neighbor to re-center the graph and follow the threads of connection.
Knowledge Graph Neighbors
Auto-linked to the rest of the Human Behavior Taxonomy by family, domain, dimension, and shared keywords.
We favor people who are similar to us or who like us.
Systematic errors in explaining the causes of behavior — yours or others'.
Faces and brands look more appealing in a group than individually.
Avoiding contact with people or things perceived as 'contaminated'.
Giving polite rather than honest answers to avoid offense.
Judging phenomena by the standards of one's own culture.
A group decides on a course of action that nobody actually wants, because everyone assumes others prefer it.
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Sacrificing for others without expecting a personal reward.
Masking the sponsors of a message to make it appear grassroots.
Disagreement grows more extreme as the parties think more about the issue.
We accept vague, general statements as personally meaningful.