What are self-serving attributions?

Self-serving attributions refer to the cognitive bias where individuals attribute their successes to their own abilities or efforts while attributing failures to external factors beyond their control. This tendency is a psychological strategy that helps maintain self-esteem and a positive self-image. For example, if someone performs well on a project, they might think, "I worked really hard and that's why I succeeded." Conversely, if they perform poorly, they might say, "The project was poorly organized, and that’s why I didn’t do well."

This type of attribution can influence not only individual mindset but also interpersonal relationships and group dynamics within organizations. When team members consistently make self-serving attributions, it can lead to conflict, reduced collaboration, and an inability to learn from mistakes, as each member may avoid acknowledging their role in failures.

In contrast, the other options focus on aspects such as group performance, team context, or collective outcomes, which do not capture the essence of self-serving attributions. Group performance and collective outcomes involve a broader perspective, while self-serving attributions are inherently individual and focused on personal responsibility and perception of success and failure.