Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE) describes the mental process we go through when we attribute the actions of another to aspects of their personality as opposed to their circumstances. More succinctly, it is the tendency to believe attitude is responsible for behaviour.

For example, if someone cuts you up on the road, you might think, "What a twat!" yet - in actual fact - they may have been avoiding a hazard unseen by you. Another example could be when refusal leads to offence. Or - in the case of self observed FAE - when you believe your success is down to your own ‘inner abilities’ as opposed to your own ‘hard work’.

One explanation for FAE is salience. If we see someone doing something, all our attention is focused on them, and our judgement stems from this sole focus of attention. Situational facets don't even get a look in.

Another theory is we are comforted by the notion that, whatever is perpetrated by the other, it could never be perpetrated by ourselves. This is known as the, "just world hypothesis," where people 'get what they ask for' or 'deserve'.

Another interesting and perhaps contradictory theory, is that we instantly judge the act itself and then automatically attach character to the act. For example, we see someone being carried into a car. Are they being helped or kidnapped? If they're being helped, we automatically think the 'helper' is nice; if they're being kidnapped we automatically think the 'helper' is bad.

FAE is a fact of life in many Western cultures, but in Eastern cultures it is relatively absent where behaviour is more often attributed to situational effects. There are many studies on cultural differences and FAE. In one of these studies researchers found that Japanese students were twice as likely as their Canadian counterparts to believe that behaviour was a result of situational circumstances rather than character.

Culturally the difference only starts to occur after puberty. Eastern cultures tend to be based on collectivism and Western cultures tend to be based on individualism. Before our teen years, all humans appear to be much more individualist no matter where they are. Perhaps we in the West need to grow up a bit!

Mindfulness is one intervention that has been proven to significantly lower FAE. This is good news for all you meditators out there, because the implications of bias due to FAE are pretty disadvantageous. Firstly, FAE can result in the unfair treatment of strangers. Secondly, it can sow the seeds of falsehood in relationships. Lastly, if we learn from our surroundings and develop beliefs from people's behaviour, we run the risk of developing beliefs which are not based on truth.

So... dust off your yoga mat, your cushion or chair; sit, close your eyes, breathe, repeat, enjoy.