What is the fundamental attribution error?

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overestimate the influence of internal dispositional factors and underestimate the influence of external situational factors when explaining other people's behavior. If someone cuts you off in traffic, you are likely to think they are a rude person rather than considering they might be rushing to a hospital. Interestingly, when explaining our own behavior, we tend to attribute it to the situation, a pattern called the actor-observer bias.