What describes the fundamental attribution error?

The fundamental attribution error refers to the common tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and underestimate situational factors when explaining the behavior of others. This means that people often attribute someone's actions to their personality or disposition rather than considering the context or external circumstances influencing that behavior.

In the context of the choices provided, this description aligns most closely with the belief that personality traits solely define behavior. When observing others, individuals might overlook how situational variables—such as stress, environment, or social pressures—contribute to someone's actions and instead focus on inherent traits.

The other options focus on different concepts that do not capture the essence of the fundamental attribution error. For instance, blaming external factors for one's own failures represents a different cognitive bias known as the self-serving bias, where individuals attribute their own successes to personal abilities and their failures to external causes. The inclination to judge others based on their perceived intentions addresses how people interpret motivations but does not specifically pertain to the attribution of behavior to personal versus situational factors. Lastly, focusing on environmental factors when assessing behavior contrasts with the fundamental attribution error, as it emphasizes a situational approach rather than attributing behavior primarily to personality traits.