Self-Serving Bias
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Self-Serving Bias

What is it?

Self-Serving Bias is the tendency to attribute successes to internal factors (e.g., talent or effort) and failures to external factors (e.g., bad luck or unfair circumstances) to protect or enhance self-esteem.

Self-Serving Bias is a way our brain protects our self-esteem by taking credit for successes and blaming failures on external factors. It helps us feel good about ourselves, even when things don’t go our way.

Simple Examples:

  1. At School:

    • Success: "I got an A on the test because I’m smart and studied hard!"
    • Failure: "I failed the test because the teacher made it too hard."

  2. At Work:

    • Success: "I got a promotion because I’m talented and hardworking."
    • Failure: "I didn’t get the promotion because my boss doesn’t like me."

  3. In Sports:

    • Success: "We won the game because I played really well."
    • Failure: "We lost because the referee made bad calls."

Self-Serving Bias is a common mental shortcut that helps protect our confidence, but it can also prevent us from learning from our mistakes.
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