|
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
|
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 5, No. 4,
461-476 (1979)
DOI: 10.1177/014616727900500407
© 1979 Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.
The Ultimate Attribution Error: Extending Allport's Cognitive Analysis of Prejudice
Thomas F. Pettigrew
Harvard University
Allport's The Nature of Prejudice is a social psychological classic. Its delineation of the components and principles of prejudice remains modern, especially its handling of cognitive factors. The volume's cognitive contentions are outlined, and then extended with an application from attribution theory. An "ultimate attribution error" is proposed: (1) when prejudiced peonle perceive what they regard as a negative act by an outgroup member, they will more than others attribute it dispositionally, often as genetically determined, in comparison to the same act by an ingroup member: (2) wlhen prejudiced people perceive what they regard as a positive act by an outaroup member, they will more than others attribute it in comparison to the same act by an ingroup member to one or more of the following: (a) "the exceptional case," (b) luck or special advantage, (c) hig,h motivation and effort, and (d) manipulable situational context. Predictions are advanced as to which of these responses will be adopted and under which conditions the phenomenon will be magnified.

CiteULike Connotea Del.icio.us Digg Reddit Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. F. Mason and C. N. Macrae
Perspective-Taking from a Social Neuroscience Standpoint
Group Processes Intergroup Relations,
April 1, 2008;
11(2):
215 - 232.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. S. Khan and J. H. Liu
Intergroup Attributions and Ethnocentrism in the Indian Subcontinent: The Ultimate Attribution Error Revisited
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,
January 1, 2008;
39(1):
16 - 36.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. B. Ruback and P. Singh
Ingroup Bias, Intergroup Contact and the Attribution of Blame for Riots
Psychology Developing Societies,
December 1, 2007;
19(2):
249 - 265.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. D. Cramton, K. L. Orvis, and J. M. Wilson
Situation Invisibility and Attribution in Distributed Collaborations
Journal of Management,
August 1, 2007;
33(4):
525 - 546.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. J. Gill and M. R. Andreychik
Explanation and Intergroup Emotion: Social Explanations as a Foundation of Prejudice-Related Compunction
Group Processes Intergroup Relations,
January 1, 2007;
10(1):
87 - 106.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. P. J. Ellis, D. R. Ilgen, and J. R. Hollenbeck
The Effects of Team Leader Race on Performance Evaluations: An Attributional Perspective
Small Group Research,
June 1, 2006;
37(3):
295 - 322.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. D. Smurda, M. A. Wittig, and G. Gokalp
Effects of Threat to a Valued Social Identity on Implicit Self-Esteem and Discrimination
Group Processes Intergroup Relations,
April 1, 2006;
9(2):
181 - 197.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. D. Reeder, J. B. Pryor, M. J. A. Wohl, and M. L. Griswell
On Attributing Negative Motives to Others Who Disagree With Our Opinions
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
November 1, 2005;
31(11):
1498 - 1510.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
N. Ensari and N. Miller
Prejudice and Intergroup Attributions: The Role of Personalization and Performance Feedback
Group Processes Intergroup Relations,
October 1, 2005;
8(4):
391 - 410.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. Fujioka
Emotional TV Viewing and Minority Audience: How Mexican Americans Process and Evaluate TV News About In-Group Members
Communication Research,
October 1, 2005;
32(5):
566 - 593.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
B. Park and C. M. Judd
Rethinking the Link Between Categorization and Prejudice Within the Social Cognition Perspective
Personality and Social Psychology Review,
May 1, 2005;
9(2):
108 - 130.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. Shirazi and A. Biel
Internal-External Causal Attributions and Perceived Government Responsibility for Need Provision: A 14-Culture Study
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,
January 1, 2005;
36(1):
96 - 116.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Korostelina
The Impact of National Identity on Conflict Behavior: Comparative Analysis of Two Ethnic Minorities in Crimea
International Journal of Comparative Sociology,
July 1, 2004;
45(3-4):
213 - 230.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
N. A. Wyer
Not all Stereotypic Biases are Created Equal: Evidence for a Stereotype-Disconfirming Bias
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
June 1, 2004;
30(6):
706 - 720.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. D. Galinsky and G. Ku
The Effects of Perspective-Taking on Prejudice: The Moderating Role of Self-Evaluation
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
May 1, 2004;
30(5):
594 - 604.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. Tomaskovic-Devey, M. Mason, and M. Zingraff
Looking for the Driving While Black Phenomena: Conceptualizing Racial Bias Processes and their Associated Distributions
Police Quarterly,
March 1, 2004;
7(1):
3 - 29.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Jaina and S. Tyson
Psychological Similarity in Work-Based Relationships and the Development of Self-Efficacy Beliefs
Human Relations,
March 1, 2004;
57(3):
275 - 296.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. D. Johnson, C. Simmons, S. Trawalter, T. Ferguson, and W. Reed
Variation in Black Anti-White Bias and Target Distancing Cues: Factors that Influence Perceptions of "Ambiguously Racist" Behavior
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
May 1, 2003;
29(5):
609 - 622.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. R. Levy, J. E. Plaks, Y.-y. Hong, C.-y. Chiu, and C. S. Dweck
Static Versus Dynamic Theories and the Perception of Groups: Different Routes to Different Destinations
Personality and Social Psychology Review,
May 1, 2001;
5(2):
156 - 168.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
O. Ybarra, W. G. Stephan, and L. Schaberg
Misanthropic Memory for the Behavior of Group Members
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
December 1, 2000;
26(12):
1515 - 1525.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Owens, P. Slee, and R. Shute
'It Hurts a Hell of a Lot...': The Effects of Indirect Aggression on Teenage Girls
School Psychology International,
November 1, 2000;
21(4):
359 - 376.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. R. Sommers and P. C. Ellsworth
Race in the Courtroom: Perceptions of Guilt and Dispositional Attributions
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
November 1, 2000;
26(11):
1367 - 1379.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Kemmelmeier and D. G. Winter
Putting Threat into Perspective: Experimental Studies on Perceptual Distortion in International Conflict
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
September 1, 2000;
26(7):
795 - 809.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
F. Pratto, J. H. Liu, S. Levin, J. Sidanius, M. Shih, H. Bachrach, and P. Hegarty
Social Dominance Orientation and the Legitimization of Inequality Across Cultures
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,
May 1, 2000;
31(3):
369 - 409.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
W. Wagner, G. Duveen, M. Themel, and J. Verma
The Modernization of Tradition: Thinking about Madness in Patna, India
Culture Psychology,
December 1, 1999;
5(4):
413 - 445.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. TOMASKOVIC-DEVEY and S. SKAGGS
An Establishment-Level Test of the Statistical Discrimination Hypothesis
Work and Occupations,
November 1, 1999;
26(4):
422 - 445.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
O. Ybarra
Misanthropic Person Memory when the Need to Self-Enhance is Absent
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
February 1, 1999;
25(2):
261 - 269.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. M. Kramer
Paranoid Cognition in Social Systems: Thinking and Acting in the Shadow of Doubt
Personality and Social Psychology Review,
November 1, 1998;
2(4):
251 - 275.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Augoustinos and I. Walker
The Construction of Stereotypes within Social Psychology: From Social Cognition to Ideology
Theory Psychology,
October 1, 1998;
8(5):
629 - 652.
[Abstract]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V. Y. Yzerbyt, A. Rogier, and S. T. Fiske
Group Entitativity and Social Attribution: On Translating Situational Constraints into Stereotypes
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
October 1, 1998;
24(10):
1089 - 1103.
[Abstract]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. Cole and L. Leets
Linguistic Masking Devices and Intergroup Behavior: Further Evidence of an Intergroup Linguistic Bias
Journal of Language and Social Psychology,
September 1, 1998;
17(3):
348 - 371.
[Abstract]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Rubin and M. Hewstone
Social Identity Theory's Self-Esteem Hypothesis: A Review and Some Suggestions for Clarification
Personality and Social Psychology Review,
February 1, 1998;
2(1):
40 - 62.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. M. Duck, D. J. Terry, and M. A. Hogg
Perceptions of a Media Campaign: The Role of Social Identity and the Changing Intergroup Context
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
January 1, 1998;
24(1):
3 - 16.
[Abstract]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. C. Thomas and B. M. Meglino
Causal Attribution in an Intercultural Interaction: The Effect of Stimulus Presentation Mode
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,
September 1, 1997;
28(5):
554 - 568.
[Abstract]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. D. Munro and P. H. Ditto
Biased Assimilation, Attitude Polarization, and Affect in Reactions to Stereotype-Relevant Scientific Information
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
June 1, 1997;
23(6):
636 - 653.
[Abstract]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. J. Rothman and C. D. Hardin
Differential Use of the Availability Heuristic in Social Judgment
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
February 1, 1997;
23(2):
123 - 138.
[Abstract]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. T. Miller, E. D. Rothblum, D. Felicio, and P. Brand
Compensating for Stigma: Obese and Nonobese Women's Reactions to Being Visible
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
October 1, 1995;
21(10):
1093 - 1106.
[Abstract]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. A. van Dijk
Discourse Semantics and Ideology
Discourse Society,
April 1, 1995;
6(2):
243 - 289.
[Abstract]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. T. ALLISON and C. E. HERLOCKER
Constructing Impressions in Demographically Diverse Organizational Settings: A Group Categorization Analysis
American Behavioral Scientist,
March 1, 1994;
37(5):
637 - 652.
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. M. MacKie, S. T. Allison, L. T. Worth, and A. G. Asuncion
The Impact of Outcome Biases on Counterstereotypic Inferences about Groups
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
February 1, 1992;
18(1):
44 - 51.
[Abstract]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. T. Lynskey, C. Ward, and G. J.O. Fletcher
Stereotypes an d Intergroup Attributions in New Zealand
Psychology Developing Societies,
March 1, 1991;
3(1):
113 - 127.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. H. Smith, G. I. Whitehead III, and N. M. Sussman
The Positivity Bias in Attributions: Two Cross-Cultural Investigations
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,
September 1, 1990;
21(3):
283 - 301.
[Abstract]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. M. Mackie and L. T. Worth
Differential Recall of Subcategory Information about In-Group and Out-Group Members
Pers Soc Psychol Bull,
September 1, 1989;
15(3):
401 - 413.
[Abstract]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. Waters Jr.
Making the Organizational Behavior Course Relevant To Black Students
Journal of Management Education,
January 1, 1989;
13(3):
38 - 44.
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Furnham
Attitudes Toward the Unemployed Receiving Social Security Benefits
Human Relations,
February 1, 1983;
36(2):
135 - 149.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. R. Mitchell
Attributions and Actions: A Note of Caution
Journal of Management,
April 1, 1982;
8(1):
65 - 74.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
|