Self-serving bias

A self-serving bias occurs when we interpret the world in a way that is beneficial to our sense of self. This leads individuals to attribute positive events and successes to their own character and conversely, attribute negative events and failures to external factors beyond their control. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it often is.

For example, the tendency to attribute successes to our diligence and hard work and failures to external causes is one manifestation of this bias. Another manifestation is the tendency to justify our own bad behavior based on external pressures. (It’s not my fault because…)