Emotional states really affect how we see our own behavior compared to others. This is especially true when we think about something called actor-observer bias.

For example, when I’m feeling happy, I give myself a lot of credit for my successes. I might say, “I did great because I’m smart!”

But if something goes wrong, I often blame outside things. Like, if I’m late, I might say, “Traffic made me late,” instead of admitting I should have left earlier.

The same goes for how I see other people. If someone else messes up, my mood can change how I think about it. If I’m feeling irritated, I might think, “They’re just lazy,” without considering that they might have had a tough day.

It’s really interesting how our feelings can change how we look at our actions and the actions of others.

I’ve also noticed that negative emotions make this bias stronger. When I’m stressed or upset, I tend to focus on what’s wrong with other people. I might ignore my own mistakes.

This shows how our feelings can twist our understanding of social behavior. It affects how we connect with each other in different situations.