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 overestimate the likelihood of negative events occurring?

  1. Optimism Bias

  2. Pessimism Bias

  3. Illusion of Control

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

Pessimism Bias refers to the tendency of individuals to overestimate the likelihood of negative events happening to them, leading to a pessimistic outlook on life.

Multiple choice

The concept of the 'spiral of silence' refers to:

  1. The tendency of people to keep their opinions to themselves if they believe they are in the minority

  2. The tendency of people to conform to the opinions of others

  3. The tendency of people to become more polarized in their opinions over time

  4. The tendency of people to become more apathetic about politics over time
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The spiral of silence theory suggests that people are less likely to express their opinions if they believe they are in the minority, leading to a reinforcement of the dominant opinion.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute positive qualities to one's own romantic partner and negative qualities to one's former romantic partners?

  1. Positivity bias

  2. Negativity bias

  3. Confirmation bias

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

Positivity bias is the tendency to attribute positive qualities to one's own romantic partner and negative qualities to one's former romantic partners. This bias can help to maintain a positive view of the current relationship.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to view one's own romantic relationship as superior to others?

  1. Relationship enhancement

  2. Relationship derogation

  3. Relationship idealization

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

Relationship enhancement is the tendency to view one's own romantic relationship as superior to others. This bias can help to maintain a positive view of the relationship.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute one's successes to internal factors and one's failures to external factors?

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Fundamental attribution error

  4. Illusory superiority

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

Self-serving bias refers to the tendency to attribute one's successes to internal factors (e.g., skill, effort) and one's failures to external factors (e.g., bad luck, unfair circumstances).

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to approach or avoid certain stimuli or situations based on their perceived valence?

  1. Habituation

  2. Classical conditioning

  3. Operant conditioning

  4. Expectancy theory

  5. Incentive theory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Incentive theory proposes that motivation is driven by the desire to obtain positive incentives or avoid negative incentives. Incentives can be material rewards, social recognition, or other factors that have value to the individual.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute one's successes to external factors and one's failures to internal factors?

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Fundamental attribution error

  4. Illusory superiority

  5. Pessimism bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to attribute one's successes to external factors (e.g., luck, circumstances) and one's failures to internal factors (e.g., lack of ability, effort).

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute one's successes to internal factors and one's failures to external factors, regardless of the actual causes?

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Fundamental attribution error

  4. Illusory superiority

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

Self-serving bias refers to the tendency to attribute one's successes to internal factors (e.g., skill, effort) and one's failures to external factors (e.g., bad luck, unfair circumstances), regardless of the actual causes.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to perceive oneself as better than average in various domains?

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Fundamental attribution error

  4. Illusory superiority

  5. Optimism bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Illusory superiority refers to the tendency to perceive oneself as better than average in various domains, even when objective evidence suggests otherwise. This bias can lead to overconfidence and unrealistic expectations.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute one's successes to external factors and one's failures to internal factors, regardless of the actual causes?

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Fundamental attribution error

  4. Illusory superiority

  5. Pessimism bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Pessimism bias refers to the tendency to attribute one's successes to external factors (e.g., luck, circumstances) and one's failures to internal factors (e.g., lack of ability, effort), regardless of the actual causes.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute one's successes to internal factors and one's failures to external factors, regardless of the actual causes?

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Fundamental attribution error

  4. Illusory superiority

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

Self-serving bias refers to the tendency to attribute one's successes to internal factors (e.g., skill, effort) and one's failures to external factors (e.g., bad luck, unfair circumstances), regardless of the actual causes.

Multiple choice

In the context of psychic abilities, what is the term used to describe the ability to perceive past events or information that is not readily accessible?

  1. Telepathy

  2. Clairvoyance

  3. Precognition

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

Retrocognition refers to the ability to perceive information about past events or experiences that are not readily accessible through normal means.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the belief in one's ability to successfully perform a task or achieve a goal?

  1. Self-confidence

  2. Self-efficacy

  3. Self-esteem

  4. Self-awareness
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their own capabilities to perform a specific task or achieve a desired outcome.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Cognitive Dissonance

  3. Selective Perception

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

Confirmation Bias refers to the tendency to seek out and interpret information that supports one's existing beliefs, while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts those beliefs.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency for individuals to attribute their successes to internal factors and their failures 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 refers to the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to one's own abilities and efforts, while attributing negative outcomes to external factors or circumstances.