Self-Serving Bias is a cognitive bias that refers to the tendency of individuals to attribute their successes to their own abilities, while blaming external factors for their failures. This bias is seen as a form of self-enhancement, as individuals tend to view themselves in a positive light, while ignoring or downplaying negative aspects of their behavior or performance. Self-Serving Bias is a common phenomenon in many areas of life, including work, relationships, and personal goals. One of the key features of Self-Serving Bias is that it is often unconscious and automatic. Individuals may not even be aware that they are engaging in this bias, as it is a natural way of thinking that helps to protect their self-esteem and maintain a positive self-image. However, this bias can have negative consequences, as it can lead to overconfidence, complacency, and a lack of motivation to improve. Another important aspect of Self-Serving Bias is that it can be influenced by a variety of factors, including culture, personality, and situational factors. For example, individuals from individualistic cultures may be more likely to engage in Self-Serving Bias, as they tend to place a greater emphasis on individual achievement and success. Similarly, individuals with high levels of narcissism may be more prone to this bias, as they have an inflated sense of self-importance and a need for admiration. Overall, Self-Serving Bias is a complex phenomenon that has important implications for our understanding of human behavior and decision-making. While it can serve as a protective mechanism for our self-esteem, it can also lead to distorted thinking and negative outcomes. As such, it is important to be aware of this bias and to strive for a more balanced and objective view of ourselves and our abilities.
cognitive bias, self-enhancement, unconscious, overconfidence, culture, personality, situational factors, narcissism, decision-making
Self-Serving Bias is when people tend to take credit for their successes, but blame someone or something else for their failures. For example, if someone does well on a test, they might say it was because they studied hard, but if they do badly on a test, they might say it was because the test was too hard. This is a cognitive bias, which is a way of thinking that can lead people to make wrong assumptions or decisions.
Self-Serving Bias, Attribution, Attributional Bias, Blame Shifting
Self-Serving Bias is a cognitive bias which leads to the belief that one's own actions, decisions and behavior are more accurate, favorable and beneficial than those of others. This bias is seen as a form of logical fallacy, as it is based on the assumption that one's own actions are more accurate and beneficial than those of others, without any evidence to support the claim. This bias can lead to a distorted view of reality, as well as a lack of recognition of one's own errors and failures. It can also lead to a lack of motivation to improve one's performance, as one may not be aware of the areas in which improvement is necessary.
Self-Serving Bias, Cognitive Biases, Logical Fallacies, Attribution Errors.
CITATION : "Jessica Adams. 'Self-Serving Bias.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=213598 (Accessed on June 06, 2025)"
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