Which bias makes individuals focus on personal achievements while dismissing failures?

The self-serving bias is the phenomenon where individuals attribute their successes to internal factors, such as their own skills or efforts, while attributing failures to external factors, such as situational constraints or bad luck. This bias helps individuals maintain a positive self-image and boosts self-esteem. For example, if someone receives a promotion at work, they may believe it's due to their hard work and talent, while if they fail to get the job, they might blame it on the organization’s unfair policies or the qualifications of their competition. This selective perception reinforces their confidence and can impact future motivations and behaviors, as they are more likely to pursue similar successes without the fear of personal accountability for failures.

Other biases mentioned, such as the fundamental attribution error, involve misattributing causes of behavior—typically placing undue weight on internal traits over external circumstances when judging others. Stereotyping pertains to generalized beliefs about groups rather than personal achievements, while the halo effect involves overall impressions influencing judgments on specific traits. Thus, while each of these biases affects perception and judgment in different ways, the self-serving bias specifically highlights the focus on personal achievements while minimizing failures.