In 1958, Fritz Heider developed the concept of “Naïve Psychology” in which he proposed that “common” people unconsciously act like informal psychologists by observing and trying to explain other people’s behaviour through their own common sense. This concept establishes that human beings create their own intuitive theories about how society functions.

This concept helped develop the Attribution Theory, which explains that people actively determine whether the behaviours of others are caused by external factors such as the environment or internal factors such as personality. We can observe this process in our daily lives. Every time we try to explain why someone acted the way they did, whether during conversations with friends, family, or colleagues (or whenever we gossip), we are making attributions about their behaviour, and we put this theory into action.

When a friend tells us about something their boyfriend/girlfriend did wrong, because we usually have limited information about the situation, we tend to explain the other person’s behaviour in terms of their personality rather than the circumstances they were facing. In that case, we end up favouring our friend. This tendency is known as the fundamental attribution error, which is a cognitive bias where we judge the actions of others based excessively on their personality, ignoring the context.

When someone makes a mistake, we attribute it to their character, but if we make a mistake, we blame the situation. This doesn’t mean we’re selfish, but rather that our cognition tends to protect and defend us.

However, we must consider that our common sense psychology uses natural, flexible language to symbolize experiences, but as Heider pointed out, it lacks the systematic, empirical rigor ultimately required by formal psychological science. In other words, it’s natural and okay to use our common sense, but it’s not science or psychology.

Understanding Attribution Theory reminds us that our first explanations for other people’s behaviour are not always accurate. Although common sense helps us navigate everyday social interactions, psychological science encourages us to question our assumptions, consider the broader context, and recognize the biases that shape our judgments.

Taking a moment to consider the context behind people’s actions can make us not only better thinkers but also more empathetic individuals.