Individual Differences in Correspondence Bias: Measurement, Consequences, and Correction of Biased Interpersonal Attributions

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Scopelliti, Irene; Min, H. Lauren; McCormick, Erin; Kassam, Karim S.; Morewedge, Carey K.
• 署名单位: University of London; City St Georges, University of London; University of Colorado System; University of Colorado Boulder; Carnegie Mellon University; Boston University
• 刊物名称: MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0025-1909
• DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2016.2668
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 1879-1910
• 关键词: correspondent inferences; correspondence bias; fundamental attribution error dispositional attributions; individual differences; judgment and decision making

摘要

Across consequential attributions of attitudes, ability, emotions, and morality, people make correspondent inferences. People infer stable personality characteristics from others' behavior, even when that behavior is caused by situational factors. We examined the structure of correspondent inferences and report the development and validation of an instrument measuring individual differences in this correspondence bias (a Neglect of External Demands scale, or NED). The NED is internally consistent and distinct from scales and measures of intelligence, cognitive ability, cognitive reflection, general decisionmaking ability, preference for control, and attributional style. Individual differences in correspondence bias predict blaming people for harmful accidents, believing coerced confessions, correcting for job and task difficulty when making performance evaluations and incentive-compatible personnel selections, and separating market and fund performance when making incentive-compatible investments. Fortunately, the tendency to commit correspondence bias can be reduced. Making situational information easier to process debiases those most prone to correspondence bias.