"We think this way because we’re hypocrites, certainly – but also thanks to one of the most important phenomena in social psychology, the fundamental attribution error, or FAE. **In accounting for others’ behaviour, we chronically overvalue personality-based explanations, while undervaluing situational ones**. ‘**When we see someone else kick a vending machine for no visible reason, we assume they are “an angry person**”,’ writes [[Eliezer Yudkowsky]] at the blog overcomingbias.com. ‘**But when you yourself kick the machine, it’s because the bus was late, the train was early, your report is overdue, and now the damned vending machine has eaten your lunch money for the second day in a row. Surely, you think to yourself, anyone would kick the vending machine, in that situation**.’" --- **Tags** -- [[quotes]], [[fundamental-attribution-error]], [[context]], [[emotions]], **Source** -- [[20241114100017 - B - Help!]]