A Hurricane Has Slower Wind Speeds Than a Tornado Does

question 28

Essay

A hurricane has slower wind speeds than a tornado does, but it inflicts more damage. Why?

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Definitions:

Defensive Attribution

A theory suggesting that people attribute unforeseeable actions either to the victim or the perpetrator, in an effort to distance themselves from the possibility of experiencing a similar event.

Actor-Observer Bias

This psychological bias describes a tendency to attribute one’s own actions to external factors, while attributing others’ actions to their character or disposition.

Self-Serving Bias

A common cognitive bias that causes individuals to attribute positive outcomes to their own characteristics and negative outcomes to external factors.

Fundamental Attribution Error

A cognitive bias that leads people to overemphasize personal traits and underestimate situational factors when explaining others' behaviors.