The Actor-Observer Bias

Our own behaviour appears reasonable to us, and any mistakes that we make are easily attributed to other factors. However, if the same mistake is made by a third person, our tendency is to judge them as incompetent or inconsiderate. This is known as The Actor-Observer Bias.

Even on social ...

A possible reason is that when people are the actors in the situation, they are blind to their own actions.

When they are observers, they can easily spot the behaviors of other people.

The actor-observer bias can often lead to misunderstandings and arguments.

In an argument, both sides my respond that the other person started it. Each side thinks their own behavior is because of the situation, but the other's behavior is because of their characte...