I wanted to share a video that I saw on eHow, which introduces a theory called the fundamental attribution error. This extends the attribution theory both inside and outside of the classroom. It relates to the way that people assign characteristics to others in our daily lives (including the way that a teacher might assign a characteristic to a student). Here is the link if anyone would like to watch, but I’ll also summarize the main points (http://www.ehow.com/video_4756534_what-fundamental-attribution-error.html).
The fundamental attribution error states that the way we look at ourselves and the world plays an important role in how we look at other’s behaviors. If we are happy and fun loving, we will see others in a positive light; if we are depressed or sad, we will see those same characteristics in others. The main idea of this theory states that people tend to overestimate internal characteristics in others, and underestimate outside influences that might play a role in behaviors.
The way that I can relate this to my future teaching experiences, is to remember that what I see in a child’s actions at school (internal cues) is not encompassing everything that might be going on in his home life (external cues). I might think that a student is purposefully being rude to me or ignoring my requests, and attribute this to an internal characteristic such as laziness; but, without knowing if he is getting enough sleep, or if his parents are going through a divorce, I should not relate his actions completely to cues that I see as internalized.
