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 used to describe the tendency of individuals to interpret ambiguous information in a way that is consistent with their existing beliefs and attitudes?

  1. Selective Perception

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Selective Exposure

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

Perceptual Bias refers to the tendency of individuals to interpret ambiguous information in a way that is consistent with their existing beliefs and attitudes.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of rare events and underestimate the likelihood of common events?

  1. Availability heuristic

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Framing effect

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

The availability heuristic is a cognitive bias that leads people to overestimate the likelihood of events that are easily recalled or imagined, and underestimate the likelihood of events that are difficult to recall or imagine.

Multiple choice

What is the phenomenon in which people tend to make more risky decisions when they are feeling positive emotions, such as happiness or excitement?

  1. Optimism bias

  2. Risk-taking bias

  3. Affect heuristic

  4. Mood-dependent memory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The affect heuristic is a cognitive bias that leads people to make decisions based on their current emotional state. When people are feeling positive emotions, they tend to make more risky decisions, while when they are feeling negative emotions, they tend to make more conservative decisions.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that contradicts them?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Framing effect

  3. Illusion of control

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

Confirmation bias is a cognitive bias that leads people to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs and ignore information that contradicts them. This can lead to biased decision-making and a distorted view of reality.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to believe that we have more control over events than we actually do?

  1. Illusion of control

  2. Optimism bias

  3. Self-serving bias

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

The illusion of control is a cognitive bias that leads people to believe that they have more control over events than they actually do. This can lead to unrealistic expectations and a sense of disappointment when things don't go as planned.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to make decisions based on the way information is presented, rather than on the actual content of the information?

  1. Framing effect

  2. Illusion of control

  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 leads people to make decisions based on the way information is presented, rather than on the actual content of the information. For example, people may be more likely to choose a product if it is presented as being on sale, even if the sale price is not actually a good deal.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to remember events as being more positive or negative than they actually were?

  1. Hindsight bias

  2. Illusion of control

  3. Confirmation bias

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

Hindsight bias is a cognitive bias that leads people to remember events as being more positive or negative than they actually were. This can lead to a distorted view of the past and a sense of regret or satisfaction that is not based on reality.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute our own successes to internal factors, such as our abilities and efforts, and our failures to external factors, such as bad luck or other people?

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Illusion of control

  3. Confirmation bias

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

The self-serving bias is a cognitive bias that leads people to attribute their own successes to internal factors, such as their abilities and efforts, and their failures to external factors, such as bad luck or other people. This can lead to an inflated sense of self-worth and a distorted view of reality.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to overestimate the importance of our own contributions to a group effort?

  1. Illusion of control

  2. Self-serving bias

  3. Confirmation bias

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

The illusion of control is a cognitive bias that leads people to overestimate the importance of their own contributions to a group effort. This can lead to a sense of entitlement and a lack of appreciation for the contributions of others.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to make decisions based on our emotions, rather than on rational thought?

  1. Affective heuristic

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Framing effect

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

The affective heuristic is a cognitive bias that leads people to make decisions based on their emotions, rather than on rational thought. This can lead to impulsive decisions and a lack of consideration for the long-term consequences of our actions.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to believe that we are less likely to experience negative events than others?

  1. Optimism bias

  2. Illusion of control

  3. Confirmation bias

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

The optimism bias is a cognitive bias that leads people to believe that they are less likely to experience negative events than others. This can lead to a sense of invulnerability and a lack of preparation for potential risks.

Multiple choice

According to the theory of cognitive dissonance, what do people tend to do when they hold two conflicting beliefs or attitudes?

  1. Change one of the beliefs or attitudes

  2. Seek out information that supports one of the beliefs or attitudes

  3. Ignore the conflict and continue to hold both beliefs or attitudes

  4. Experience psychological discomfort and anxiety
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The theory of cognitive dissonance, proposed by Leon Festinger, suggests that people experience psychological discomfort and anxiety when they hold two conflicting beliefs or attitudes. This discomfort motivates them to reduce the dissonance by changing one of the beliefs or attitudes, seeking out information that supports one of the beliefs or attitudes, or ignoring the conflict and continuing to hold both beliefs or attitudes.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the psychological phenomenon where individuals experience a heightened awareness of their eating habits and sensations, promoting healthier eating choices and a more balanced relationship with food?

  1. Intuitive Eating

  2. Mindful Eating

  3. Conscious Eating

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

Intuitive eating, mindful eating, and conscious eating are all terms used to describe the psychological phenomenon where individuals experience a heightened awareness of their eating habits and sensations, promoting healthier eating choices and a more balanced relationship with food.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the psychological phenomenon where individuals experience a heightened awareness of their eating habits and sensations, promoting healthier eating choices and a more balanced relationship with food?

  1. Intuitive Eating

  2. Mindful Eating

  3. Conscious Eating

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

Intuitive eating, mindful eating, and conscious eating are all terms used to describe the psychological phenomenon where individuals experience a heightened awareness of their eating habits and sensations, promoting healthier eating choices and a more balanced relationship with food.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the bias that occurs when people are reluctant to participate in a survey?

  1. Sampling bias

  2. Non-response bias

  3. Response bias

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

Non-response bias occurs when people are reluctant to participate in a survey, leading to biased results.