What cognitive bias occurs when people attribute others' actions primarily to their character rather than situational factors?

The fundamental attribution error is identified as the cognitive bias in question because it specifically pertains to the tendency of individuals to emphasize personal characteristics or traits when explaining someone else’s behavior while downplaying the influence of situational factors. For example, if a person sees someone else fail at a task, they might conclude that the person is incompetent, rather than considering external elements that may have contributed to the failure, such as stress or lack of resources.

This bias plays a significant role in social psychology as it highlights how individuals can misinterpret others' actions. It underscores the human inclination to judge others based on perceived personality traits without considering the broader context influencing behavior. This can lead to misunderstandings and reinforce stereotypes, making it a crucial concept in understanding interpersonal relations and social perceptions.

The other cognitive biases mentioned do not directly concern attributing others' behavior primarily to internal characteristics. Actor-observer bias revolves around the difference in attribution between oneself and others, while social comparison bias deals with evaluating oneself in relation to others. Overconfidence bias relates to the overestimation of one's abilities or knowledge, which does not pertain to the attribution of actions to character or situational influences.