Trait Ascription Bias - Overview

Overview

Trait ascription and the cognitive bias associated with it have been a topic of active research for more than three decades. Like many other cognitive biases, trait ascription bias is supported by a substantial body of experimental research and has been explained in terms of numerous theoretical frameworks originating in various disciplines. Among these frameworks are attribution theory (related to how people determine causes of observed events), attributional theory (related to how people judge the determined causes of events or behaviour), theories of personality description such as the five factor model and work regarding the circumstances under which personality assessments are valid. Seminal work includes Turner, Jones, Kammer and Funder. Incorrectly ascribing traits to other persons based on limited information or observations intuitively plays a role in the formation and perpetuation of some social phenomena such as stereotypes and prejudice. As such, methods to mitigate the affect of trait ascription bias on personality assessments outside of the lab are also of interest to social scientists. Although trait-oriented theories of personality description, and indeed the very notion of universal, enduring traits themselves, have a natural appeal some researchers are critical of their existence outside of the laboratory and present results which imply trait ascription, and consequently trait ascription bias, are simply residue of the methodologies historically used to “detect” them. Criticism is based either on the non-existence of personality traits (contrary to five factor descriptions) or suggest divergent interpretations of results and alternative mechanisms of ascription, limiting the scope of existing work.