托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'self-serving bias' refers to the tendency of individuals to attribute their successes to internal factors, such as ability or effort, while attributing their failures to external factors, such as luck or other people. This bias helps protect self-esteem and maintain a positive self-image. It is common in various settings, including academics, sports, and work, and can influence how people perceive and explain their performance outcomes.

Professor: So, let me give you a classic example from a study. We asked a group of students to take a difficult math test. After the test, we told them their scores. Those who scored high—say 90%—when asked why they did well, most said things like, 'I studied hard' or 'I'm good at math.' They attributed their success to their own effort or ability. Now, those who scored low—say 40%—when asked why they did poorly, they said things like, 'The test was unfair' or 'The room was too noisy.' They blamed external factors, not themselves. This clearly shows how students protect their self-image by taking credit for success and denying responsibility for failure.