What did Mezulis et al. (2004) find about self-serving attribution biases across different demographics?

Mezulis et al. (2004) found that self-serving attribution biases, which refer to the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to oneself and negative outcomes to external factors, exhibit significant variability across different demographics. This variability is influenced by factors such as cultural background, gender, and age. The research indicates that not all groups manifest self-serving biases to the same extent or in the same manner. For instance, while individuals from Western cultures may display these biases prominently, those from collectivist cultures may exhibit them less frequently, highlighting the complexity and contextual nature of attribution styles.

The finding aligns with broader evidence that demonstrates how contextual and demographic factors shape psychological processes. Thus, understanding the nuances in self-serving attribution biases is crucial for a comprehensive perspective on how individuals perceive success and failure across diverse groups. This nuanced understanding is essential for social psychologists and related fields, as it highlights the importance of considering cultural and demographic contexts in behavioral research and applications.