ultimate attribution error

n. An overly positive evaluation of the group to which one belongs and a denigration of other groups through converging cognitive errors. Negative acts by one's in-group members are attributed to circumstances while positive acts are attributed to stable personal characteristics among group members. Negative acts by out-group members are assumed to characteristics of the whole out-group and attributable to basic character while positive acts by out-group members are dismissed as attributable to the situation and not characteristic of the group. Also known as group serving bias.