Self-serving bias is also called self-serving attributional bias.
Biases in attribution are common.
In science, the goal is to make unbiased causal attributions based on objective, evidence-based standards.
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But in daily life, humans tend to be inherently subjective and biased when attributing causation.
An example of this error: assuming that people withneuroticismareneverrelaxed in social situations.
Fundamental attribution error erroneously attributeseverythingto people’s character traits without considering external factors.
What Purpose Does Self-Serving Bias Serve?
Self-serving bias helps people feel better about themselves; it’s a self-enhancing attributional bias that boosts self-esteem.
For example, people withclinical depressionoften invert self-serving bias.
Instead of attributing negative outcomes to others or external factors, they blame themselves when things go wrong.
And, if something good does happen, they attribute it to luck or anything but themselves.
Is Self-Serving Bias the Same as Confirmation Bias?
Self-serving bias and confirmation bias are different.
Confirmation bias is a tendency to cherry-pick facts that confirm a personal belief.
Self-serving bias is a tendency to take credit for personal success but blame others for failure.
Is Self-Serving Bias a Bad Thing?
Self-serving bias is not always a bad thing.
However, too little self-serving bias isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Modesty Bias: The Opposite of Self-Serving Bias
Modesty bias is the opposite of self-serving bias.
How Can You Work on Self-Serving Bias?
Self-awareness is the first step to mitigating self-serving bias.
Self-compassioncan also help to keep self-serving bias in check.
People often use self-serving bias to avoid feeling bad about themselves.
Self-compassion reduces negative feelings about oneself because you acknowledge and accept that nobody’s perfect.
Without the need to constantly protect your ego and self-esteem by blaming others, self-serving bias can subside.
Summary
Self-serving bias is a tendency to take credit for success but blame failure on others.
In moderation, self-serving bias has positive effects because it boosts self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.
However, too much self-serving bias can backfire.
Self-awareness, self-compassion, and expressions of gratitude are three ways to minimize excessive self-serving bias.
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