Is there a universal positivity bias in attributions? A meta-analytic review of individual, developmental, and cultural differences in the self-serving attributional bias
Mezulis, Abramson, Hyde and Hankin meta-analysed 266 studies yielding 503 independent effect sizes on the self-serving attributional bias, the tendency to explain good outcomes by stable, broad, personal causes and bad outcomes by temporary, narrow or external ones. The average effect was large and appeared in nearly all samples; strength varied by age and between cultural samples. Their conclusion is that the bias is pervasive in the general population but varies considerably. No ranking of cultures is used in the article.
Mezulis, Abramson, Hyde and Hankin meta-analysed 266 studies yielding 503 independent effect sizes on the self-serving attributional bias, the tendency to explain good outcomes by stable, broad, personal causes and bad outcomes by temporary, narrow or external ones. The average effect was large and appeared in nearly all samples; strength varied by age and between cultural samples. Their conclusion is that the bias is pervasive in the general population but varies considerably. No ranking of cultures is used in the article.
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Mezulis, A. H., Abramson, L. Y., Hyde, J. S., & Hankin, B. L. (2004). Is there a universal positivity bias in attributions? A meta-analytic review of individual, developmental, and cultural differences in the self-serving attributional bias. Psychological Bulletin, 130(5), 711-747. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.5.711 https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.130.5.711