Social Science

Cognitive Biases and Decision Making

1,902 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

Which concept refers to the idea that individuals may adopt or reject media representations based on their existing beliefs, values, and experiences?

  1. Selective Perception

  2. Selective Exposure

  3. Selective Retention

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

Selective Perception suggests that individuals tend to pay attention to and remember media content that aligns with their existing beliefs and values.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the process by which media representations can influence our sense of self-worth and self-esteem?

  1. Media Comparison

  2. Media Idealization

  3. Media Identification

  4. Media Internalization
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Media Internalization refers to the process by which individuals incorporate media representations into their own self-concept, leading to changes in their self-perceptions and behaviors.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the process by which individuals may seek out media content that confirms their existing beliefs and values?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Selective Exposure

  3. Selective Perception

  4. Selective Retention
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Selective Exposure refers to the tendency of individuals to seek out media content that aligns with their existing beliefs and values, while avoiding content that challenges them.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the process by which media representations can influence our perceptions of what is considered risky or dangerous?

  1. Risk Perception Theory

  2. Media Effects Theory

  3. Social Learning Theory

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

Risk Perception Theory suggests that media representations can shape our perceptions of what is considered risky or dangerous, and can influence our own risk-taking behavior.

Multiple choice

What is the primary cause of the anxiety of comparison?

  1. The fear of being judged by others

  2. The desire to be better than others

  3. The belief that others are better than us

  4. The pressure to conform to societal standards
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The anxiety of comparison arises from the belief that others are better than us, leading to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority.

Multiple choice

Which psychological phenomenon is characterized by the belief that one is being followed or watched by a doppelganger?

  1. Doppelganger Syndrome

  2. Capgras Syndrome

  3. Fregoli Syndrome

  4. Cotard Delusion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Capgras Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which an individual believes that a person they know has been replaced by an identical-looking impostor.

Multiple choice

What is the concept of misrecognition?

  1. The denial of the value and worth of a person.

  2. The disrespect for the rights and freedoms of a person.

  3. The rejection of the differences of a person.

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

Misrecognition is the denial of the value and worth of a person, the disrespect for the rights and freedoms of a person, and the rejection of the differences of a person.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to overweight recent information and underweight past information?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Hindsight bias

  3. Availability heuristic

  4. Anchoring bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The availability heuristic is a cognitive bias that leads people to overweight recent information and underweight past information. This is because recent information is more easily recalled and comes to mind more readily than past information.

Multiple choice

Which human factor is most likely to lead to overconfidence in financial decision-making?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Hindsight bias

  3. Illusion of control

  4. Self-attribution bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The illusion of control is a cognitive bias that leads people to believe they have more control over events than they actually do. This can lead to overconfidence in financial decision-making, as people may believe they can control the outcome of their investments.

Multiple choice

Which human factor is most likely to lead to regret in financial decision-making?

  1. Hindsight bias

  2. Prospect theory

  3. Loss aversion

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

All of the human factors listed can lead to regret in financial decision-making. Hindsight bias is the tendency to believe that one could have predicted an outcome after it has already occurred. Prospect theory is the theory that people are more sensitive to losses than gains. Loss aversion is the tendency to feel the pain of a loss more strongly than the pleasure of a gain.

Multiple choice

Which human factor is most likely to lead to procrastination in financial decision-making?

  1. Hyperbolic discounting

  2. Present bias

  3. Status quo bias

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

All of the human factors listed can lead to procrastination in financial decision-making. Hyperbolic discounting is the tendency to prefer smaller rewards sooner over larger rewards later. Present bias is the tendency to overweight the present over the future. Status quo bias is the tendency to prefer the current state of affairs over change.

Multiple choice

Which human factor is most likely to lead to impulsive financial decision-making?

  1. Affect heuristic

  2. Hot-hand fallacy

  3. Gambler's fallacy

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

All of the human factors listed can lead to impulsive financial decision-making. Affect heuristic is the tendency to make decisions based on emotions rather than logic. Hot-hand fallacy is the belief that a person is more likely to continue to succeed after a string of successes. Gambler's fallacy is the belief that a person is due for a win after a string of losses.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency of individuals to conform to the opinions and behaviors of the group?

  1. Conformity

  2. Compliance

  3. Obedience

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

Conformity is the term for the tendency of individuals to conform to the opinions and behaviors of the group.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency of individuals to adopt the opinions and behaviors of others in order to be accepted by the group?

  1. Conformity

  2. Compliance

  3. Obedience

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

Conformity is the term for the tendency of individuals to adopt the opinions and behaviors of others in order to be accepted by the group.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency of individuals to obey the instructions of an authority figure, even if they believe the instructions are wrong?

  1. Conformity

  2. Compliance

  3. Obedience

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

Obedience is the term for the tendency of individuals to obey the instructions of an authority figure, even if they believe the instructions are wrong.