Understanding how we think about why things happen—whether it's because of someone's personal qualities (internal) or the situation they are in (external)—can really help us avoid unfair judgments about others.

Research shows that when we blame someone for a negative outcome, we might be more likely to point to their personal traits. This can actually increase blame by about 20%.

On the other hand, when we think about the situation someone was in, it helps us be kinder and can lower blame by about 15%.

Here’s a closer look at each type:

1. Internal Attributions:

   • These focus on a person's character or qualities.
   • Sometimes, this leads us to make broad assumptions based on one incident.

2. External Attributions:

   • These take into account what was happening around the person.
   • They help us feel more empathy; studies show they can reduce how much blame we feel by even 30%.

By being aware of these two types of thinking, we can change how we react. Instead of quickly blaming someone for failing, we can think about what else might have influenced them. This helps us understand others better and makes us less biased.

Using this knowledge can lead to fairer judgments about people, which is especially important in diverse environments.