AAMC FL Practice Exam

What does self-serving bias refer to in psychology?

1. The tendency to blame external factors for one's failures

2. The tendency to perceive oneself favorably

3. The tendency to focus only on negative feedback

4. The tendency to underestimate one's own abilities

The correct answer is: The tendency to perceive oneself favorably

Self-serving bias refers to the cognitive tendency where individuals perceive themselves in an overly favorable manner. This bias often manifests in behaviors such as attributing successes to personal attributes or efforts while blaming external factors for failures. For example, if someone performs well on a test, they might credit their intelligence or hard work. However, if they do poorly, they may attribute that to difficult questions or a lack of preparation time due to external circumstances. This self-enhancing view contributes to an inflated self-esteem and can impact how individuals evaluate their competencies and situations. The other options highlight different psychological phenomena but do not capture the essence of self-serving bias. Focusing only on negative feedback can relate to a tendency towards negativity, while underestimating one’s abilities can be more aligned with self-doubt or impostor syndrome. Blaming external factors might reflect a defensive mechanism but is narrower than the broader concept of self-serving bias, which encompasses a favorable self-perception in both success and failure contexts.