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

What is the term for the tendency to focus on the most urgent tasks, even if they are not the most important?

  1. The Urgency Bias

  2. The Parkinson's Law

  3. The Zeigarnik Effect

  4. The Law of Least Effort
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Urgency Bias is the tendency to focus on the most urgent tasks, even if they are not the most important. This can lead to neglecting important tasks that are not as urgent.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to focus on the negative aspects of a situation, rather than the positive aspects?

  1. The Negativity Bias

  2. The Optimism Bias

  3. The Confirmation Bias

  4. The Dunning-Kruger Effect
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A Correct answer
Explanation

The Negativity Bias is the tendency to focus on the negative aspects of a situation, rather than the positive aspects. This can lead to a pessimistic outlook on life and decreased motivation.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to underestimate the amount of time it will take to complete a task?

  1. The Planning Fallacy

  2. The Optimism Bias

  3. The Dunning-Kruger Effect

  4. The Confirmation Bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Optimism Bias is the tendency to underestimate the amount of time it will take to complete a task. This can lead to unrealistic expectations and missed deadlines.

Multiple choice

The tendency to perceive objects as belonging together based on their proximity is known as:

  1. Proximity

  2. Similarity

  3. Continuity

  4. Closure
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Proximity is the tendency to perceive objects as belonging together based on their proximity.

Multiple choice

The tendency to perceive objects as belonging together based on their similarity is known as:

  1. Similarity

  2. Proximity

  3. Continuity

  4. Closure
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Similarity is the tendency to perceive objects as belonging together based on their similarity.

Multiple choice

The tendency to perceive objects as belonging together based on their connectedness is known as:

  1. Continuity

  2. Proximity

  3. Similarity

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

Continuity is the tendency to perceive objects as belonging together based on their connectedness.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon where people tend to remember positive events more easily than negative events?

  1. Positivity bias

  2. Negativity bias

  3. Memory bias

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

Positivity bias refers to the tendency for people to remember positive events more easily than negative events. This bias is thought to be due to a number of factors, including the fact that positive events are often more salient and easier to recall, and that people tend to focus on the positive aspects of their lives.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon where people tend to remember events that are consistent with their existing beliefs and expectations?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Disconfirmation bias

  3. Memory bias

  4. Cognitive bias
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Confirmation bias refers to the tendency for people to remember events that are consistent with their existing beliefs and expectations. This bias is thought to be due to a number of factors, including the fact that people tend to pay more attention to information that confirms their beliefs, and that they are more likely to remember information that is consistent with their beliefs.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon where people tend to remember events that are more emotionally charged?

  1. Emotional memory

  2. Flashbulb memory

  3. Autobiographical memory

  4. Episodic memory
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Emotional memory refers to the tendency for people to remember events that are more emotionally charged. This bias is thought to be due to the fact that emotions can enhance the encoding and retrieval of memories. Emotional events are often more salient and easier to recall, and they can also trigger stronger physiological responses, which can help to consolidate memories.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon where people tend to remember events that occurred at the beginning and end of a series of events more easily than events that occurred in the middle?

  1. The serial position effect

  2. The primacy effect

  3. The recency effect

  4. The middle effect
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A Correct answer
Explanation

The serial position effect refers to the phenomenon where people tend to remember events that occurred at the beginning and end of a series of events more easily than events that occurred in the middle. This effect is thought to be due to a number of factors, including the fact that the beginning and end of a series of events are often more distinctive and easier to recall, and that people tend to pay more attention to the beginning and end of a series of events.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon where people tend to remember events that are more personally relevant to them?

  1. Self-reference effect

  2. Personal memory

  3. Autobiographical memory

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

Self-reference effect refers to the phenomenon where people tend to remember events that are more personally relevant to them. This effect is thought to be due to a number of factors, including the fact that personally relevant events are often more salient and easier to recall, and that people tend to pay more attention to information that is personally relevant to them.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon where people tend to remember events that are more consistent with their current goals and values?

  1. Goal-directed memory

  2. Value-directed memory

  3. Autobiographical memory

  4. Episodic memory
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Goal-directed memory refers to the phenomenon where people tend to remember events that are more consistent with their current goals and values. This effect is thought to be due to a number of factors, including the fact that goal-relevant events are often more salient and easier to recall, and that people tend to pay more attention to information that is goal-relevant.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon where people tend to remember events that are more surprising or unexpected?

  1. Surprise memory

  2. Unexpected memory

  3. Autobiographical memory

  4. Episodic memory
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Surprise memory refers to the phenomenon where people tend to remember events that are more surprising or unexpected. This effect is thought to be due to a number of factors, including the fact that surprising events are often more salient and easier to recall, and that people tend to pay more attention to information that is surprising or unexpected.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon of perceiving sounds as louder when they are unexpected or unpredictable?

  1. Acoustic surprise

  2. Startle response

  3. Noise annoyance

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

Acoustic surprise refers to the increased perception of loudness of sounds when they are unexpected or unpredictable, which can be particularly startling and disruptive.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon of perceiving sounds as louder when they are associated with negative emotions?

  1. Emotional amplification

  2. Acoustic distortion

  3. Auditory illusion

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

Emotional amplification refers to the increased perception of loudness of sounds when they are associated with negative emotions, such as anger or fear.