Understanding Self-Serving Bias: An In-Depth Look

Have you ever noticed that when something goes right, you attribute it to your own abilities, but when something goes wrong, you blame external factors or other people? If so, you might be experiencing what psychologists call self-serving bias. We also refer to this bias as the fundamental attribution error. However, bias is essential to disentangle the enormous flow of information. We would get bogged down in the endless flow of facts if we had to process everything without preconceived ideas.

One of the largest figures in our lives is ourselves. We preconceive who we are. Basically, we have a built in image of our true self burned in our brain. We hold to an image of an ideal self that typically is kinder, smarter, and moral ethical that reality would support. Thomas Gilovich, a professor of psychology at Cornell University, taught that “truly ambiguous information is often simply perceived in a way that fits our preconceptions” (Gilovich, 1993). I would add that sometimes we prefer to keep information ambiguous. Accordingly, our preconceptions of self have a strong pull on our interpretations.

In this article, we’ll explore the concept of self-serving bias, its impact on our perception and behavior, and tips for mitigating its effects.

What is Self-Serving Bias?

Self-serving bias is a psychological phenomenon that involves our tendency to attribute our successes to internal factors (such as our skills, intelligence, or effort) while blaming external factors (such as luck, circumstances, or other people) for our failures. Essentially, we take credit for our achievements and distance ourselves from failures. Gilovich explains that “people are also prone to self-serving assessments when it comes to apportioning responsibility for their successes and failures” (Gilovich, 1993).

This bias manifests in various aspects of our lives, including personal relationships, work environments, and even how we interpret world events. It’s a natural human tendency to protect our self-esteem and maintain a positive self-image, but it can also lead to distorted perceptions and biased judgments.

Phillip Zimbardo explains that “most of us hide behind egocentric biases that generate the illusion that we are special. These self-serving protective shields allow us to believe that each of us is above average on any test of self-integrity” (Zimbardo, 2007). Self-serving bias serves as a defense mechanism, protecting us against harsh realities. Knowing our true fallibility would certain harm our sense of self-efficacy and lead to a pulling back, instead of pushing forward. We protect by engaging in projection, denial and a host of other self-serving biases that dull the hurt, and blur the reality.

Internal and External Causes

A group of middle-age guys living together in a commune style arrangement sit around each evening drinking beer, watching sports, and blaming the world (the economy, capitalism, and the government) for their growing discontent with life. Certainly, these all play a part in how our lives play out. However, we have the ability to respond. External events create the playing field and set the rules, however, internal processes determine how we respond.

“Internal causes generally refer to abilities, skills, personal traits, or efforts, whereas external causes generally refer to the actions of inactions of others, luck, and circumstances such as the weather or the economy” (Shepperd, Malone, & Sweeny, 2008). The causes of events are an intricate and complex mixture of both internal and external processes. We just simplify the complexity by which causes we prefer to focus on.

Sadder but Wiser

In research on attributions, nondepressed individuals exhibit a systematic tendency to make more internal, stable, and global attributions for positive events than for negative events, often referred to as a “self-serving” bias ( Miller & Ross, 1975), which is hypothesized to help maintain their self-esteem. In contrast, depressed individuals are more evenhanded (similar) in their attributions for positive and negative events (Seligman, 1995).

T. Franklin Murphy wrote, “perhaps, when we judge a cognitive style, we shouldn’t just slap a label of good or bad without examining its functional consequences. If unfiltered reality shuts us down, leaving us fearfully begging for escape, by all means, cognitively reappraise, subjectively manipulate, and break-up reality into digestible chunks” (Murphy, 2022).

Todd Kashdan and Robert Biswas-Diener explain that “the average person lives inside a narcissistic bubble, a self-serving bias that gives most of us the confidence we need to face a complex and uncertain day” (Kashdan & Biwas-Diener, 2015, Kindle location: 2,315). Like most cognitive tools, we can measure self-serving bias on a linear scale where certain levels of this bias are helpful but the extremes interfere with healthy living. Certainly, we don’t want to be depressed. However, we don’t want to be so disconnected from reality that are decisions wreak havoc on our futures, inviting maladaptive, present moment serving cognitions.

Benefits of Reality

Douglas T. Kenrick, a professor of psychology at Arizona State University, wrote “If you want to live in a nicer world, you need good, unbiased science to tell you about the actual wellsprings of human behavior. You do not need a viewpoint that sounds comforting but is wrong, because that could lead you to create ineffective interventions” (2011, Kenrick, Kindle Location: 1,052). Basically, sometimes we need outside, unbiased observations to escape the inner working of our mind.

Our behaviors interact with reality, inviting real life consequences. Too much self-serving bias and we harm ourselves and our relationships. If our behaviors are leading to broken relationships, perhaps, a reality check is in order.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a psychology professor at Claremont Graduate University, wrote that “our brain is a great computing machine, but it also places some dangerous obstacles in the way of apprehending reality truthfully. The first of these is the nervous system itself.” He continues, “The more that is known about how the mind works, the more we realize that the filter through which we experience the world has some peculiar built-in biases. If we do not understand how these biases work, thoughts and actions are never truly going to be under conscious control” (Csikszentmihalyi, 2009, Kindle location: 765).

We can mitigate reality, but never deny it all together.

The Impact of Self-Serving Bias

Self-serving bias can have both positive and negative impacts on individuals and their interactions. Let’s delve into some of the significant effects:

1. Enhanced Self-Esteem

Self-serving bias helps to bolster self-esteem by attributing successes to our own abilities. Taking credit for our accomplishments can boost our confidence, motivation, and overall well-being.

2. Preservation of Self-Worth

By attributing failures to external factors, we are protecting our self-worth and maintaining a positive self-image. This can help us bounce back from setbacks more easily.

3. Biased Perceptions

Self-serving bias can lead to biased perceptions of ourselves and others. We may perceive ourselves more positively than others, leading to overconfidence and an inflated sense of superiority. These biased perceptions may also interfere with ethical behavior. Self-serving biases invite moral justification, excusing behaviors that hurt others.

4. Strained Relationships

When individuals continuously attribute their successes to themselves while blaming others for failures, it can strain relationships. This bias can prevent individuals from taking responsibility for their actions, leading to conflicts and resentment.

5. Organizational Implications

In the workplace, self-serving bias can impact team dynamics and decision-making processes. It may hinder cooperation, impede learning from mistakes, and undermine the overall efficiency and effectiveness of an organization.

Mitigating the Effects of Self-Serving Bias

While self-serving bias is a natural tendency, being aware of its existence can help us mitigate its negative effects. Here are a few strategies to counteract self-serving bias:

1. Practice Self-Reflection: Engage in honest self-reflection and critically evaluate your own contributions and shortcomings. Acknowledge the role of both internal and external factors in outcomes. Murphy wrote that “self-observation could realign our elaborate explanations back to reality. Our mind when left to itself has a way of getting lost in ruminations, jumping from creative self-serving narratives, to judgmental condemnations. The observing ego was considered a tool that could lasso in those rascal thoughts and bring them back to realistic considerations” (Murphy, 2022).
2. Seek Feedback: Actively seek feedback from others to gain a more objective perspective. Listen to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity for growth and self-improvement.
3. Foster Collaboration: Encourage a collaborative and supportive environment where individuals can acknowledge mistakes without fear of judgment. By promoting a culture of shared responsibility, self-serving bias can be minimized.
4. Cultivate Empathy: Develop empathy towards others and try to understand their perspectives. Recognize that everyone may be influenced by self-serving bias, and approach situations with empathy and understanding.
5. Take Responsibility: Accept responsibility for your actions, both success, and failure. By owning up to mistakes, you can learn from them and strive for personal growth.

A Few Final Words by Psychology Fanatic

In conclusion, self-serving bias is a natural cognitive bias that influences how we attribute successes and failures. While it serves to protect our self-esteem, it can also lead to distorted perceptions, strained relationships, and hinder collective progress. By practicing self-reflection, seeking feedback, fostering collaboration, cultivating empathy, and taking responsibility, we can mitigate the negative effects of self-serving bias and promote a more balanced and realistic view of ourselves and others.

Remember, being aware of our biases is the first step towards personal and interpersonal growth. So, let’s continue to strive for self-awareness and challenge our assumptions for a more objective and harmonious world.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice.

References:

Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (2009). The Evolving Self: Psychology for the Third Millennium. HarperCollins e-books; Reprint edition.

Gilovich, Thomas (1993) How We Know What Isn’t So: The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life. Free Press; Reprint edition.

Kashdan, Todd, Biswas-Diener, Robert (2015) The Upside of Your Dark Side: Why Being Your Whole Self–Not Just Your “Good” Self–Drives Success and Fulfillment. Plume; Reprint edition.

Kenrick, Douglas T. (2011). Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life: A Psychologist Investigates How Evolution, Cognition, and Complexity are Revolutionizing our View of Human Nature. Basic Books; 1st edition.

Shepperd, James, Malone, Wendi, & Sweeny, Kate (2008). Exploring Causes of the Self‐serving Bias. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2(2). DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2008.00078.x

Murphy, T. Franklin (2022). Fundamental Attribution Error. Psychology Fanatic. Published 4-29-2022. Accessed 11-12-2023.

Murphy, T. Franklin (2022) The Observing Ego. Psychology Fanatic. Published 9-14-2022. Accessed 11-13-2023.

Seligman, Martin E.P.; Buchanan, Gregory McClell (1995). Explanatory Style. Routledge; 1st edition.

Zimbardo, Philip (2007). The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil. ‎Random House; 1st edition.

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