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

Which of the following is NOT a way in which social comparison can influence emotion?

  1. It can make us feel happy when we compare ourselves favorably to others

  2. It can make us feel sad when we compare ourselves unfavorably to others

  3. It can motivate us to improve ourselves

  4. It can make us more likely to experience negative emotions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Social comparison can make us feel happy, sad, or motivated, but it does not make us more likely to experience negative emotions.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where people tend to share information that confirms their existing beliefs and values, while ignoring or dismissing information that contradicts them?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Groupthink

  3. Selective perception

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

Confirmation bias is the tendency for people to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs and values, while ignoring or dismissing information that contradicts them. This can lead to a distorted view of reality and make it difficult to engage in open-minded and informed discussions. Confirmation bias is particularly relevant in the context of social media, where users are often exposed to content that is tailored to their interests and preferences.

Multiple choice

The tendency to attribute one's successes to internal factors and failures to external factors is known as:

  1. Self-Serving Bias

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Fundamental Attribution Error

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

Self-serving bias is a cognitive bias where individuals tend to take credit for their successes while blaming external factors for their failures.

Multiple choice

The tendency to perceive patterns and connections where none exist is known as:

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Illusion of Control

  3. Pareidolia

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

Apophenia refers to the human tendency to perceive meaningful patterns or connections in random or meaningless data.

Multiple choice

The tendency to overestimate the likelihood of rare events and underestimate the likelihood of common events is known as:

  1. Availability Heuristic

  2. Representativeness Heuristic

  3. Illusion of Control

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

The availability heuristic is a cognitive bias where individuals tend to judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily instances of that event come to mind.

Multiple choice

The tendency to believe that one has more control over events than one actually does is known as:

  1. Illusion of Control

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Fundamental Attribution Error

  4. Self-Serving Bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The illusion of control refers to the tendency for individuals to overestimate their ability to control events or outcomes, even when they have little or no actual control.

Multiple choice

The tendency to seek out information that confirms one's existing beliefs and disregard information that contradicts them is known as:

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Illusion of Control

  3. Fundamental Attribution Error

  4. Self-Serving Bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Confirmation bias is a cognitive bias where individuals tend to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs and disregard information that contradicts them.

Multiple choice

The tendency to attribute one's own behavior to external factors and others' behavior to internal factors is known as:

  1. Fundamental Attribution Error

  2. Illusion of Control

  3. Self-Serving Bias

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

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to attribute one's own behavior to external factors and others' behavior to internal factors.

Multiple choice

The tendency to perceive oneself as being better than average is known as:

  1. Illusion of Control

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Self-Serving Bias

  4. Superiority Bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Superiority bias refers to the tendency for individuals to overestimate their own abilities and qualities compared to others.

Multiple choice

The tendency to believe that one's own culture or group is superior to others is known as:

  1. Ethnocentrism

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Self-Serving Bias

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

Ethnocentrism refers to the tendency for individuals to view their own culture or group as superior to others.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the ability to perceive events before they occur?

  1. Telepathy

  2. Clairvoyance

  3. Precognition

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

Precognition refers to the ability to perceive future events before they happen.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency to judge historical figures and events based on present-day moral standards?

  1. Presentism

  2. Anachronism

  3. Historicism

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

Presentism refers to the practice of evaluating past actions and beliefs using the moral standards and values of the present, rather than considering the historical context in which they occurred.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the process of actively seeking out information that confirms existing beliefs while avoiding information that challenges them?

  1. Selective Perception

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Selective Exposure

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

Confirmation Bias refers to the tendency to seek out information that supports one's existing beliefs and to disregard information that contradicts them.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where individuals tend to adopt the opinions and behaviors of those around them?

  1. Groupthink

  2. Social Proof

  3. Conformity

  4. Diffusion of Innovation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Conformity refers to the tendency of individuals to align their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors with those of the group they belong to or identify with.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the process of actively seeking out information that challenges existing beliefs and assumptions?

  1. Selective Perception

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Selective Exposure

  4. Counter-Attitudinal Advocacy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Counter-Attitudinal Advocacy refers to the process of actively seeking out information that challenges one's existing beliefs and assumptions.