THE ROLE OF APPLICABILITY IN THE EMERGENCE OF THE OVERATTRIBUTION BIAS

Study 1 assessed participants' theories regarding various issues previ ously used in overattribution bias studies. Results suggest that perso nality plays an important role in explaining positions on these issues . Studies 2, 3, and 4 indicated that the overattribution bias is conti ngent on the explanatory applicability of accessible concepts for a pa rticular issue. Study 2 used an issue associated with personality; an overattribution bias emerged only when personality was stressed in the instructions. Study 3 used an issue associated with a sociological th eory; this time, an overattribution bias appeared only when a socioeco nomic concept was emphasized. Essays were not circulated in Studies 2 and 3, but were in Study 4. Again, the bias appeared only when an appl icable (personality) concept was activated. These results, which exten d the range of applicability, are discussed within the framework of th e social judgability approach.