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 to perceive ambiguous or neutral situations as threatening or dangerous?

  1. Hostile Attribution Bias

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Illusion of Control

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

Hostile Attribution Bias is the tendency to perceive ambiguous or neutral situations as threatening or dangerous. This bias can lead individuals to interpret the actions of others as hostile or aggressive, which may increase the likelihood of conflict and violence.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency to perceive oneself as more moral and virtuous than others, even when engaging in unethical or criminal behavior?

  1. Moral Disengagement

  2. Self-Serving Bias

  3. Confirmation Bias

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

Moral Disengagement is the tendency to perceive oneself as more moral and virtuous than others, even when engaging in unethical or criminal behavior. This process allows individuals to rationalize and justify their actions, reducing feelings of guilt or shame.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency to perceive oneself as a victim of circumstances, rather than taking responsibility for one's own actions?

  1. External Locus of Control

  2. Self-Serving Bias

  3. Confirmation Bias

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

External Locus of Control is the tendency to perceive oneself as a victim of circumstances, rather than taking responsibility for one's own actions. Individuals with an external locus of control may believe that their behavior is determined by external factors, such as fate or luck, rather than by their own choices.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency for individuals to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs and avoid information that challenges them?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Selective perception

  3. Motivated reasoning

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

Confirmation bias refers to the tendency for individuals to seek out information that supports their existing beliefs and disregard information that contradicts them.

Multiple choice

Which psychological mechanism is responsible for the tendency for individuals to reduce the discomfort caused by holding conflicting beliefs?

  1. Attitudinal change

  2. Cognitive dissonance

  3. Rationalization

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

Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs or values, and individuals often engage in behaviors to reduce this discomfort.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency for individuals to perceive the world in a way that is consistent with their political ideology?

  1. Political bias

  2. Ideological framing

  3. Partisan perception

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

Ideological framing refers to the tendency for individuals to interpret information and events in a manner that aligns with their political ideology.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency for individuals to form strong bonds with members of their own political group and view members of opposing groups negatively?

  1. Group polarization

  2. Partisan bias

  3. Ingroup favoritism

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

Ingroup favoritism refers to the tendency for individuals to favor members of their own group and discriminate against members of other groups.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency for individuals to view their own political group as morally superior to other groups?

  1. Moral superiority bias

  2. Ideological framing

  3. Partisan perception

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

Moral superiority bias refers to the tendency for individuals to view their own political group as morally superior to other groups.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency for individuals to conform to the beliefs and values of their social group?

  1. Social conformity

  2. Groupthink

  3. Partisan bias

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

Social conformity refers to the tendency for individuals to adjust their beliefs and behaviors to match those of the group they belong to.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency for individuals to view political issues in terms of a simple dichotomy, with one side being completely right and the other side being completely wrong?

  1. Black-and-white thinking

  2. Ideological polarization

  3. Partisan bias

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

Black-and-white thinking refers to the tendency to view issues in terms of extremes, with no middle ground.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency for individuals to engage in political discussions primarily with like-minded individuals, reinforcing their existing beliefs?

  1. Echo chamber

  2. Partisan bias

  3. Groupthink

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

An echo chamber is a situation in which individuals are only exposed to information and opinions that reinforce their existing beliefs, leading to a lack of exposure to alternative perspectives.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a cognitive bias that can affect user behavior?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Hindsight bias

  3. Framing effect

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

Cognitive biases are systematic errors in thinking that can influence user behavior. Confirmation bias, hindsight bias, and framing effect are all examples of cognitive biases that can impact user decision-making and product usage.

Multiple choice

Groupthink is a phenomenon that can occur in organizational decision-making, characterized by:

  1. Excessive conformity and suppression of dissent

  2. Illusion of unanimity and invulnerability

  3. Pressure to conform to group norms

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

Groupthink is a phenomenon where group members strive for unanimity and conformity, leading to the suppression of dissent and critical thinking, and an illusion of invulnerability and unanimity.

Multiple choice

The escalation of commitment phenomenon refers to:

  1. The tendency to continue investing in a failing course of action despite negative evidence

  2. The sunk cost effect

  3. Confirmation bias

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

The escalation of commitment phenomenon encompasses the tendency to continue investing in a failing course of action despite negative evidence, the sunk cost effect (the influence of past investments on future decisions), and confirmation bias (the tendency to seek information that confirms existing beliefs).

Multiple choice

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

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Hindsight bias

  3. Framing bias

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

Confirmation bias, hindsight bias, and framing bias are types of organizational decision-making biases, whereas bounded rationality is a concept that describes the limits of human decision-making due to cognitive constraints.