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 to be attracted to individuals with certain physical traits that indicate health and genetic fitness?

  1. Sexual Dimorphism

  2. Mate Choice

  3. Parental Investment

  4. Kin Recognition
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Mate Choice refers to the process by which individuals select partners for reproduction based on specific traits that indicate genetic quality and compatibility.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to perceive and interpret ambiguous situations in a negative or threatening manner?

  1. Negativity Bias

  2. Optimism Bias

  3. Confirmation Bias

  4. Illusion of Control
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Negativity Bias refers to the tendency to focus on and remember negative information more readily than positive information, which is thought to have evolved as a protective mechanism against potential threats.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to perceive oneself as being better than average in various domains?

  1. Self-Serving Bias

  2. Illusion of Control

  3. Optimism Bias

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

Self-Serving Bias refers to the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to one's own abilities and negative outcomes to external factors, thereby maintaining a positive self-image.

Multiple choice

In detective fiction, what is the term used to describe the situation where a detective's personal involvement in a case compromises their objectivity?

  1. Conflict of interest

  2. Emotional involvement

  3. Bias

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

Emotional involvement occurs when a detective's personal feelings or experiences interfere with their ability to remain objective and impartial in an investigation.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency to focus on positive aspects of life?

  1. Optimism

  2. Pessimism

  3. Realism

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

Optimism is the tendency to expect positive outcomes and see the world in a favorable light.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency to focus on negative aspects of life?

  1. Optimism

  2. Pessimism

  3. Realism

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

Pessimism is the tendency to expect negative outcomes and see the world in an unfavorable light.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a common type of decision-making bias?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Framing bias

  3. Hindsight bias

  4. Availability bias

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

Hindsight bias is a cognitive bias that occurs after an event has already happened.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to overvalue items they already own?

  1. Loss aversion

  2. Endowment effect

  3. Sunk cost fallacy

  4. Framing effect
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The endowment effect is a cognitive bias that leads individuals to place a higher value on items they already own compared to items they do not own.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a nudge?

  1. A tax on sugary drinks

  2. A ban on smoking in public places

  3. A default option for organ donation

  4. A mandatory retirement savings plan
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A nudge is a policy intervention that seeks to influence individual behavior in a predictable way without restricting their choices or using coercion. A default option for organ donation is an example of a nudge because it makes it more likely that individuals will become organ donors without forcing them to do so.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to be more likely to take risks when they are presented with a series of gains compared to a series of losses?

  1. Risk aversion

  2. Risk seeking

  3. Prospect theory

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

Prospect theory is a behavioral economics theory that describes how individuals make decisions under risk. It suggests that individuals are more likely to take risks when they are presented with a series of gains compared to a series of losses.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to be more likely to believe information that is consistent with their existing beliefs?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Hindsight bias

  3. Framing effect

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

Confirmation bias is a cognitive bias that leads individuals to seek out information that is consistent with their existing beliefs and to ignore information that is inconsistent with their beliefs.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to be more likely to make a decision when they are presented with a deadline?

  1. Procrastination

  2. Hyperbolic discounting

  3. Time inconsistency

  4. Present bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Present bias is a cognitive bias that leads individuals to place a higher value on immediate rewards compared to future rewards.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to be more likely to make a decision when they are presented with a smaller number of options?

  1. Choice overload

  2. Paradox of choice

  3. Analysis paralysis

  4. Information overload
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The paradox of choice is a cognitive bias that suggests that individuals are more likely to make a decision when they are presented with a smaller number of options.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to be more likely to make a decision when they are presented with information that is framed in a positive way?

  1. Framing effect

  2. Anchoring bias

  3. Confirmation bias

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

The framing effect is a cognitive bias that suggests that individuals are more likely to make a decision when they are presented with information that is framed in a positive way.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to be more likely to make a decision when they are presented with information that is presented in a vivid and concrete way?

  1. Availability heuristic

  2. Representativeness heuristic

  3. Anchoring bias

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

The availability heuristic is a cognitive bias that suggests that individuals are more likely to make a decision when they are presented with information that is presented in a vivid and concrete way.