Our fundamental attribution error
When someone else screws up, it’s because of who they are, their race, their upbringing… a glimpse into their true character.
When we do something, it’s because the situation we’re in caused it to happen.
The fundamental attribution error is based on a glitch in the way we understand causation and statistics, and it’s fueled by our unique view of ourselves. Because I’m the only person who can hear the story in my head.
It’s obvious that gender and other easily visible traits are not completely correlated with behavior. And yet we act as if they are, writing off countless individuals instead of embracing the contribution they can offer.