What describes the tendency to attribute positive events to oneself and negative events to external factors?

The tendency to attribute positive events to oneself while relegating negative events to external factors is known as self-serving bias. This cognitive bias enables individuals to protect their self-esteem by enhancing their perception of their own actions and contributions when outcomes are favorable. For instance, if someone receives a compliment for a job well done, they might attribute this success to their hard work and intelligence. Conversely, if they face criticism or a failure, they may attribute it to external circumstances, such as bad luck or the actions of others.

This perspective helps maintain a positive self-image, as individuals strive to view themselves in a favorable light. Self-serving bias plays a significant role in shaping how people interpret their experiences and can influence behaviors and decisions, particularly in social and academic contexts.

In contrast, availability cascade refers to a self-reinforcing process where the availability of certain information increases its perceived credibility, cognitive rehearsal focuses on practicing information in one's mind to enhance retention, and groupthink describes the phenomenon where groups prioritize consensus over critical analysis, often leading to poor decision-making. Each of these concepts operates in different dimensions of cognition and social behavior, distinct from the self-enhancing tendencies captured by self-serving bias.