What is the first step in the Two-Step Attribution Process according to Gilbert's research?

In Gilbert's Two-Step Attribution Process, the first step involves making an internal attribution, which means that an observer attributes someone's behavior to their personality traits, dispositions, or character. This initial reaction is often automatic and occurs quickly, allowing people to form a quick judgment about why someone acted in a certain way.

This automatic internal attribution allows individuals to simplify complex social interactions by attributing behavior to inherent traits rather than situational contexts, which are usually considered in the second step. In the subsequent step, individuals then take some time to consider situational factors that might have influenced the observed behavior, adjusting their initial attribution if necessary.

The emphasis on making an internal attribution first reflects a cognitive bias where initial information is processed quickly, potentially leading to misconceptions before deeper analysis takes place. Understanding this first step is crucial to grasping how people perceive and judge the behaviors of others in social contexts.