Lets say you ace an exam.
Generally speaking, people tend to have either aninternallocus of control or anexternallocus of control.
Someone with an external locus of control is more likely to attribute outcomes to outside forces.
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By taking credit for successes and assigning blame elsewhere for failures, they’re able to protect their self-esteem.
Motivational Factors
Different types ofmotivationcan also influence the self-serving bias.
The image that people want to convey to others, or their self-presentation, also affects self-serving attributions.
Men are more likely to make external attributions, meaning they tend to blame outside forces for their failures.
Cultural Influences
Cultural influence can play a role in how frequently people engage in the self-serving bias.
There are some scenarios where self-serving bias is less likely.
People in romantic relationships and close friendships may tend to be more modest, for example.
Impact of the Self-Serving Bias
In many cases, thiscognitive biasallows you to protect your self-esteem.
By attributing positive events to personal characteristics, you get a boost in confidence.
By blaming outside forces for failures, you protect your self-esteem and absolve yourself from personal responsibility.
One advantage of this bias is that it leads people to persevere even in the face of adversity.
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