The group attribution error is a group-serving, attributional bias identical to the fundamental attribution error except that it occurs between different groups rather than different individuals.
Group members are more likely to attribute the decisions of their own group to its decision rules, while they tend to attribute the decisions of another group to its members' attitude.
The group attribution error was first reported by Scott Allison and David Messick.
Compare to the outgroup homogeneity bias.
Famous quotes containing the words group, attribution and/or error:
“Laughing at someone else is an excellent way of learning how to laugh at oneself; and questioning what seem to be the absurd beliefs of another group is a good way of recognizing the potential absurdity of many of one’s own cherished beliefs.”
—Gore Vidal (b. 1925)
“Rationalists are admirable beings, rationalism is a hideous monster when it claims for itself omnipotence. Attribution of omnipotence to reason is as bad a piece of idolatry as is worship of stock and stone believing it to be God. I plead not for the suppression of reason, but for a due recognition of that in us which sanctifies reason.”
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948)
“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)