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 negative aspects of a situation or performance?

  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 is the tendency to focus on negative aspects of a situation or performance, rather than positive ones.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to overestimate one's own abilities or chances of success?

  1. Illusion of control

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Self-serving bias

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

Illusion of control is the tendency to overestimate one's own abilities or chances of success, even when there is little evidence to support this belief.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to seek out information that confirms one's existing beliefs or expectations?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Negativity bias

  3. Self-serving bias

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

Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out information that confirms one's existing beliefs or expectations, while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts them.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute success to external factors and failures to internal factors?

  1. Fundamental attribution error

  2. Self-serving bias

  3. Confirmation bias

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

Fundamental attribution error is the tendency to attribute success to external factors (e.g., luck, easy task) and failures to internal factors (e.g., lack of ability, effort).

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to perceive a random sequence of events as non-random and meaningful?

  1. Illusion of control

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Clustering illusion

  4. Gambler's fallacy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Clustering illusion is the tendency to perceive a random sequence of events as non-random and meaningful, even when there is no real pattern.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to believe that one has more control over events than one actually does?

  1. Illusion of control

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Self-serving bias

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

Illusion of control is the tendency to believe that one has more control over events than one actually does, even when there is little evidence to support this belief.

Multiple choice

According to the theory of motivated reasoning, individuals are more likely to:

  1. Seek information that confirms their existing beliefs

  2. Seek information that challenges their existing beliefs

  3. Evaluate information objectively and impartially

  4. Ignore political information altogether
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Motivated reasoning suggests that individuals are more likely to seek information that supports their existing beliefs and attitudes, rather than information that challenges them.

Multiple choice

Which concept refers to the tendency for individuals to perceive political information in a way that aligns with their existing beliefs and attitudes?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Selective Perception

  3. Partisan Bias

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

Confirmation bias describes the tendency for individuals to seek and interpret information in a way that confirms their existing beliefs, leading to a reinforcement of those beliefs.

Multiple choice

Which concept refers to the tendency for individuals to align their political beliefs and attitudes with those of their social group or reference group?

  1. Social Identity Theory

  2. Groupthink

  3. Partisan Bias

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

Social Identity Theory suggests that individuals derive a sense of identity and belonging from their social groups, and are motivated to maintain a positive self-image by aligning their beliefs and attitudes with those of their group.

Multiple choice

Which concept refers to the tendency for individuals to perceive political information in a way that is consistent with their group's norms and values?

  1. Partisan Bias

  2. Groupthink

  3. Social Identity Theory

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

Partisan bias describes the tendency for individuals to interpret political information in a way that aligns with the views of their political party or group, often leading to a distorted perception of reality.

Multiple choice

Which concept refers to the tendency for individuals to conform to the beliefs and attitudes of their social group, even if they personally disagree with those beliefs?

  1. Groupthink

  2. Social Identity Theory

  3. Partisan Bias

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

Groupthink describes the phenomenon where individuals in a group suppress their own doubts or objections in order to maintain harmony and consensus within the group.

Multiple choice

Which concept refers to the tendency for individuals to perceive political information in a way that is consistent with their own personal beliefs and values?

  1. Selective Perception

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Partisan Bias

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

Selective perception describes the tendency for individuals to selectively attend to information that is consistent with their existing beliefs and values, while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts those beliefs.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the belief that a person can control their substance use and avoid relapse?

  1. Self-efficacy.

  2. Locus of control.

  3. Internal motivation.

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

Self-efficacy refers to a person's belief in their ability to control their behavior and achieve their goals, including avoiding relapse in substance abuse and addiction.

Multiple choice

Which theory emphasizes the role of cognitive biases in shaping political knowledge and beliefs?

  1. Prospect theory

  2. Framing theory

  3. Heuristic-systematic processing model

  4. Elaboration likelihood model
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Prospect theory argues that individuals' political knowledge and beliefs are influenced by cognitive biases, such as the tendency to weigh losses more heavily than gains.

Multiple choice

The concept of anchoring bias refers to the tendency for individuals to rely too heavily on initial information when making economic decisions.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Anchoring bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when individuals are influenced by the first piece of information they receive, which can lead to inaccurate judgments and decision-making.