If a patient has not lost weight, which belief reflects self-serving bias?

If a patient has not lost weight, which belief reflects self-serving bias?

• A. The physician thinks the patient is lazy.
• B. The physician believes he has helped the patient.
• C. The patient thinks she lost weight and the scale is wrong.
• D. The patient blames the physician for not increasing medication.

Answer: (D)

The self-serving bias refers to the tendency of individuals to attribute positive outcomes to their own actions while attributing negative outcomes to external factors. In this context, the patient not losing weight is perceived as a negative outcome. The patient's belief that the physician is at fault for not increasing medication embodies self-serving bias because she is externalizing the blame. Instead of evaluating her own behaviors or efforts regarding weight loss, the patient shifts responsibility onto the physician, thereby maintaining a positive self-image. In this scenario, blaming the physician allows the patient to avoid personal accountability for her weight management, which is a classic example of self-serving bias. This defense strategy helps individuals protect their self-esteem by providing an explanation that absolves them of personal failure.

The self-serving bias refers to the tendency of individuals to attribute positive outcomes to their own actions while attributing negative outcomes to external factors. In this context, the patient not losing weight is perceived as a negative outcome. The patient's belief that the physician is at fault for not increasing medication embodies self-serving bias because she is externalizing the blame. Instead of evaluating her own behaviors or efforts regarding weight loss, the patient shifts responsibility onto the physician, thereby maintaining a positive self-image.

In this scenario, blaming the physician allows the patient to avoid personal accountability for her weight management, which is a classic example of self-serving bias. This defense strategy helps individuals protect their self-esteem by providing an explanation that absolves them of personal failure.