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 perceive and interpret information in a way that is consistent with one's own cultural values and beliefs?

  1. Ethnocentrism

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Illusory correlation

  4. Self-serving bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Ethnocentrism is the tendency to perceive and interpret information in a way that is consistent with one's own cultural values and beliefs, and to view other cultures as inferior.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Fundamental attribution error

  3. Illusory correlation

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

Self-serving bias is the tendency to attribute success to internal factors (e.g., skill, effort) and failure to external factors (e.g., bad luck, unfair circumstances).

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to perceive differences between groups as being larger than they actually are?

  1. Illusory correlation

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Fundamental attribution error

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

Outgroup homogeneity bias is the tendency to perceive members of other groups as being more similar to each other than they actually are, while perceiving members of one's own group as being more diverse.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Fundamental attribution error

  3. Illusory correlation

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

Self-serving bias is the tendency to attribute success to internal factors (e.g., skill, effort) and failure to external factors (e.g., bad luck, unfair circumstances).

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to perceive and interpret information in a way that confirms existing beliefs and expectations?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Hindsight bias

  3. Illusory correlation

  4. Self-serving bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms existing beliefs and expectations, while ignoring or discounting information that contradicts those beliefs.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where AI systems perpetuate and amplify existing biases in the legal system?

  1. Algorithmic bias

  2. Legal bias

  3. Systemic bias

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

Algorithmic bias refers to the tendency of AI systems to inherit and exacerbate biases present in the data they are trained on.

Multiple choice

In the context of mate selection, what is the term for the tendency for individuals to prefer partners who are physically attractive?

  1. Physical Attractiveness Bias

  2. Beauty Premium

  3. Halo Effect

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

Physical Attractiveness Bias refers to the cognitive tendency to perceive physically attractive individuals as more desirable, intelligent, and trustworthy, even when there is no objective evidence to support these assumptions.

Multiple choice

Which psychological phenomenon describes the tendency for individuals to attribute positive qualities to physically attractive people?

  1. Halo Effect

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Beauty Bias

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

The Halo Effect is a cognitive bias that leads individuals to form a positive overall impression of someone based solely on their physical attractiveness, often attributing positive qualities to them even in the absence of evidence.

Multiple choice

Which psychological theory suggests that individuals are more likely to remember and recall information presented by physically attractive individuals?

  1. Physical Attractiveness Effect

  2. Beauty Bias

  3. Halo Effect

  4. Mere Exposure Effect
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Physical Attractiveness Effect posits that individuals are more likely to pay attention to, remember, and recall information presented by physically attractive individuals, even if the information itself is unrelated to physical appearance.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency for people to focus on the negative aspects of their lives and ignore the positive aspects?

  1. Negativity bias

  2. Positivity bias

  3. Optimism bias

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

The negativity bias refers to the tendency for people to pay more attention to and remember negative information compared to positive information.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency for people to overestimate the likelihood of negative events happening to them?

  1. Optimism bias

  2. Pessimism bias

  3. Negativity bias

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

The pessimism bias refers to the tendency for people to overestimate the likelihood of negative events happening to them and underestimate the likelihood of positive events happening to them.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency for people to compare themselves to others and feel inadequate?

  1. Social comparison

  2. Self-esteem

  3. Self-efficacy

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

Social comparison refers to the tendency for people to compare themselves to others and evaluate their own worth and abilities based on these comparisons.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency for people to focus on the positive aspects of their lives and ignore the negative aspects?

  1. Negativity bias

  2. Positivity bias

  3. Optimism bias

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

The positivity bias refers to the tendency for people to focus on the positive aspects of their lives and ignore or minimize the negative aspects.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon in which consumers are more likely to buy a product if they are in a positive mood?

  1. Mood-dependent memory

  2. Mood congruence

  3. Affect infusion

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

Mood congruence is the phenomenon in which consumers are more likely to buy a product if they are in a positive mood.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the process by which consumers form beliefs and attitudes about a brand?

  1. Brand perception

  2. Brand image

  3. Brand positioning

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

Brand perception is the process by which consumers form beliefs and attitudes about a brand.