BiasSocial judgment · Attribution Bias · Entry 137
Intentionality Bias – when you assume everything is done on purpose
Did someone step on your foot, and you assume they did it on purpose? That’s Intentionality Bias – the tendency to believe people’s actions are deliberate, even when they’re accidental.
Where it can show up
- Social situations – if a friend doesn’t reply, they must be ignoring you, rather than just being busy.
- Work & colleagues – if your boss forgot about your report, it’s not because they’re overwhelmed, but because they want to fire you.
- Driving & traffic – if someone brakes suddenly, it’s not bad luck, it’s a personal attack!
A practical countermeasure
- Separate accidents from intentions – not everything happens on purpose.
- Ask instead of assuming – if something seems off, clarify before jumping to conclusions.
- Remember, you’re not the center of the universe – most people aren’t going out of their way to mess with you.