Social Science

Cognitive Biases and Decision Making

1,880 Questions

Explore a curated set of questions on cognitive biases, decision making, and behavioral economics. These concepts evaluate how social norms, emotions, and heuristics influence human judgment and group behavior. Master these topics to build a strong foundation for psychology and social science exams.

Behavioral economicsSocial group influencesEmotional decision makingConfirmation bias

Cognitive Biases and Decision Making Questions

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency of diplomats to become too focused on their own interests and objectives, leading to a lack of empathy for the other party's perspective?

  1. Diplomatic narcissism

  2. Ego diplomacy

  3. Self-interest bias

  4. Confirmation bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Diplomatic narcissism is a specific term used to describe this phenomenon in the context of diplomacy.

Multiple choice

What is the 'hedonic treadmill' in the context of happiness research?

  1. The tendency for people to quickly adapt to positive life changes, leading to a return to their baseline level of happiness

  2. The idea that happiness can be achieved through material possessions and external circumstances

  3. The belief that happiness is a fleeting emotion that cannot be sustained

  4. The notion that happiness is a subjective state that varies from person to person
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The hedonic treadmill refers to the phenomenon where people tend to adapt to positive life changes quickly, leading to a return to their baseline level of happiness.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a common bias that can influence decision-making?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Hindsight bias

  3. Framing bias

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All of the above are common biases that can influence decision-making. Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs, hindsight bias is the tendency to believe that we could have predicted an event after it has already happened, and framing bias is the tendency to make different decisions depending on how the options are presented.

Multiple choice

What is the bystander effect?

  1. The tendency for people to be less likely to help in an emergency when other people are present

  2. The tendency for people to be more likely to help in an emergency when other people are present

  3. The tendency for people to be equally likely to help in an emergency regardless of the number of other people present

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The bystander effect is the tendency for people to be less likely to help in an emergency when other people are present.

Multiple choice

What are some of the factors that contribute to the bystander effect?

  1. Diffusion of responsibility

  2. Pluralistic ignorance

  3. Evaluation apprehension

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The bystander effect is influenced by a number of factors, including diffusion of responsibility, pluralistic ignorance, and evaluation apprehension.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute our own beliefs and desires to others?

  1. Egocentrism

  2. Projection

  3. Confirmation bias

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Projection is the tendency to attribute our own beliefs and desires to others. This can lead us to misunderstand others and to make inaccurate predictions about their behavior.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the ability to understand that others can have different beliefs than us, even if we know that they are wrong?

  1. Metacognition

  2. Theory of mind

  3. Perspective-taking

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Metacognition is the ability to understand that others can have different beliefs than us, even if we know that they are wrong. This is a more advanced form of theory of mind that develops later in childhood.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the ability to understand that others can have different perspectives than us?

  1. Perspective-taking

  2. Empathy

  3. Theory of mind

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Perspective-taking is the ability to understand that others can have different perspectives than us. This is a key component of theory of mind.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the idea that our understanding of other people's minds is based on our own mental states?

  1. Egocentrism

  2. Projection

  3. Confirmation bias

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Egocentrism is the idea that our understanding of other people's minds is based on our own mental states. This can lead us to misunderstand others and to make inaccurate predictions about their behavior.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to favor members of one's own group over members of other groups?

  1. In-group favoritism

  2. Out-group derogation

  3. Social identity bias

  4. Groupthink
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In-group favoritism is the tendency for individuals to favor members of their own group over members of other groups. This bias can manifest in various forms, such as giving preferential treatment to in-group members, evaluating them more positively, and cooperating with them more readily.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon where group members suppress their individual opinions and conform to the majority view?

  1. Groupthink

  2. Social conformity

  3. Social influence

  4. In-group favoritism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when group members suppress their individual opinions and conform to the majority view, even if they disagree with it. This can lead to poor decision-making and a lack of critical thinking within the group.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to compare oneself to others who are similar to oneself?

  1. Upward social comparison

  2. Downward social comparison

  3. Lateral social comparison

  4. Self-evaluation maintenance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Lateral social comparison is the tendency to compare oneself to others who are similar to oneself in terms of social status, abilities, or other relevant characteristics.

Multiple choice

Which phenomenon occurs when individuals strive to reduce the inconsistency between their beliefs and behaviors?

  1. Cognitive dissonance

  2. Self-perception theory

  3. Attribution theory

  4. Social identity theory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Cognitive dissonance is the phenomenon that occurs when individuals strive to reduce the inconsistency between their beliefs and behaviors. This can involve changing their beliefs, changing their behaviors, or finding ways to rationalize the inconsistency.

Multiple choice

Which type of attribution occurs when individuals attribute their successes to internal factors and their failures to external factors?

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Fundamental attribution error

  3. Actor-observer bias

  4. Confirmation bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Self-serving bias is the tendency for individuals to attribute their successes to internal factors, such as their own abilities and efforts, and their failures to external factors, such as bad luck or difficult circumstances.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute the behavior of others to internal factors, while attributing one's own behavior to external factors?

  1. Actor-observer bias

  2. Self-serving bias

  3. Fundamental attribution error

  4. Confirmation bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Actor-observer bias is the tendency for individuals to attribute the behavior of others to internal factors, such as their personality or intentions, while attributing their own behavior to external factors, such as the situation or circumstances.