The fundamental attribution error is our tendency to explain other people's behaviour through their character, while explaining our own through circumstances. If someone cuts in front of us on the road, they are "rude"; if we do the same, we were "rushing because of an emergency".
An everyday example: a colleague is late to a meeting and we assume they are disorganised or indifferent. When we are the ones running late, we know the traffic was bad or something unexpected came up. The difference is that for ourselves we see the whole context, while for others we see only the act.
Psychologically, this error feeds misunderstandings, resentment and distance in relationships. It makes us forget that behind every behaviour lies a story we cannot see — fatigue, fear, pressure, a hard day. The faster we draw conclusions about someone's character, the more likely we are to be unfair.
The antidote is not naivety but a simple question: "What else might be going on here?" That small pause opens space for empathy and calmer relationships. If you notice that self-criticism or criticism of others weighs on you, explore our services.