Butch is the coach of the town’s high school football team. When interviewed by the local newspaper after a game in which his team has won, he always says how he out-coached his opponent and that the win was due to his preparation. However, when his team loses he will always blame the quarterback of his team for the loss saying the quarterback and the other players did not execute the game plan. This is an example of: Question 2 options: a) antithesis b) learned helplessness c) overjustification d) a self-serving attributional bias
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: d) a self-serving attributional bias
Explanation:
A self-serving attributional bias is a common psychological tendency where individuals attribute their successes to internal factors (such as their own skill, effort, or ability) and attribute their failures to external factors (such as bad luck, other people, or uncontrollable circumstances). This bias helps protect and enhance their self-esteem and self-image.
In the example given:
- When Butch’s team wins, he attributes the success internally to his own coaching and preparation. He takes personal credit for the positive outcome.
- When his team loses, he attributes the failure externally to the quarterback and other players not executing the plan, thus deflecting blame away from himself.
This selective attribution shows a clear self-serving bias, as Butch wants to maintain a positive image of himself regardless of the team’s performance.
Why not the other options?
- a) Antithesis means a direct opposite or contrast between two ideas or things. This does not fit the scenario as it involves explanation of attribution, not opposing ideas.
- b) Learned helplessness is a psychological condition in which a person feels unable to control or change a negative situation after repeated failures, often leading to passivity or giving up. Butch’s behavior is not about feeling helpless; instead, he is actively managing the perception of his role.
- c) Overjustification effect occurs when an external incentive (like a reward) decreases a person’s intrinsic motivation to perform a task. This is unrelated here because Butch is not motivated by rewards but rather is manipulating cause attribution.
Additional insight:
Self-serving attributional bias is common in sports, business, and everyday life. It allows people to maintain confidence and morale but can also hinder learning from mistakes because it discourages honest reflection on one’s own shortcomings. Coaches or leaders who do this consistently might struggle to improve because they fail to recognize their own role in failures.