Also posted at the Independent Bloggers’ Alliance
I had a bit of an “Aha!” moment this morning, while reading yet another commentary about whether or not Geraldine Ferraro’s remarks were racist. My thought, by the way, has been that, racist or not, what she said was certainly demeaning and condescending. In other words, pretty much Standard Operating Procedure for Hillary Clinton and her surrogates. Case in point, Hillary’s absurd reduction of Barack Obama’s accomplishments to one speech he gave in 2002.
Anyway, I don’t know why this didn’t occur to me sooner, given that I’m actually teaching the social psychology section of my intro psych class right now. But this is a classic example of the self-serving bias.
This is our tendency to take credit for success (self-enhancing bias) and deny any responsibility for failure (self-protective bias).
In other words, if I get the promotion, it’s because I worked very, very hard for it. Also, I’m brilliant. And charming. But if someone else gets it instead, they obviously just got lucky. Probably “knew the right people, scratched the right backs” and so forth.
I ran a red light? Oh my goodness–I never do that sort of thing! But my kid is sick, and I was in a hurry to pick up some medicine, and I guess I was just preoccupied.
Someone else ran a red light? Clearly a reckless scofflaw with a callous disregard for human life.
I’m actually teaching this chapter again tonight. Somehow, I’ll find a way to resist the temptation to mention Hillary Clinton’s campaign when I’m giving examples. š
self deception Sen. Clinton has shown. Only states that she won “count”. Although Fl and Mi delegates are not supposed to “count” it is important that “every vote counts” (disregarding the lack of choice that the voters in both states had). She ignored her pledged to not campaign and not have her name on the ballot. It was just an oversight then, but now it is important to “count those delegates”!
It gives us an insight as to how short sighted her presidency would be.
I agree. Every day we get a little bit of insight into how Hillary Clinton would govern, and it ain’t pretty.
And speaking of “luck”, Hillary herself must have a bit of that. She’s lost a lot of states, but by some amazing stroke of luck, does well in the states her campaign defines as “must win”. And she even happens to have big name Democratic insiders who support her in those states. What are the odds?
At this point I am persuaded that her goal is to take the nomination and the lose to to McCain–that that is the PLAN.
If I am wrong, she is already showing how she could surpass Bush in awfulness. Competent evil is usually NOT better than incompetent evil, since it tends to achieve its objectives.
Lawless for sure.
Narcissistic or self-centered individuals seem the most prone to attribution error — IMO. On the other hand, the hallmark of moral and social development is the ability to adopt the view of the other.
Dale Carnegie illustrated Attribution Theory through the example of a criminal who blamed everyone else for his acts. It’s the extreme example — a sociopathic personality.
Canegie, in How to Win Friends and Influence People, has some good ideas in his now dated work.
Isn’t it funny that politicians are often the antithesis of this. What other people call good leadership is what I call bad leadership — ironically.
http://www.westegg.com/unmaintained/carnegie/win-friends.html
Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
1. Don’t criticize, condemn or complain.
2. Give honest and sincere appreciation.
3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.
Six ways to make people like you
1. Become genuinely interested in other people.
2. Smile.
3. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
5. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
6. Make the other person feel important – and do it sincerely.
Win people to your way of thinking
1. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
2. Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say, “You’re wrong.”
3. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
4. Begin in a friendly way.
5. Get the other person saying “yes, yes” immediately.
6. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
7. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
8. Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.
9. Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires.
10. Appeal to the nobler motives.
11. Dramatize your ideas.
12. Throw down a challenge.
Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment
A leader’s job often includes changing your people’s attitudes and behavior. Some suggestions to accomplish this:
1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
2. Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly.
3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
5. Let the other person save face.
6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be “hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.”
7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
9. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.