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 see ourselves in a more positive light than we actually are?

  1. Self-enhancement

  2. Social influence

  3. Groupthink

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

Self-enhancement is the tendency to see ourselves in a more positive light than we actually are. This can be due to a desire to feel good about ourselves, or to a fear of being rejected or punished.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to remember information that is consistent with our existing beliefs and to forget information that contradicts them?

  1. Selective memory

  2. Social influence

  3. Groupthink

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

Selective memory is the tendency to remember information that is consistent with our existing beliefs and to forget information that contradicts them. This can lead us to make inaccurate judgments and to believe in things that are not true.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to make judgments about others based on their race, gender, or other social group membership?

  1. Stereotyping

  2. Social influence

  3. Groupthink

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

Stereotyping is the tendency to make judgments about others based on their race, gender, or other social group membership. This can lead us to make inaccurate judgments and to misunderstand others.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to see the world in black-and-white terms, with little room for nuance or complexity?

  1. Polarization

  2. Social influence

  3. Groupthink

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

Polarization is the tendency to see the world in black-and-white terms, with little room for nuance or complexity. This can lead us to make inaccurate judgments and to misunderstand others.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to believe that we are more likely to experience positive events than negative events?

  1. Optimism bias

  2. Social influence

  3. Groupthink

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

Optimism bias is the tendency to believe that we are more likely to experience positive events than negative events. This can lead us to make poor decisions and to take unnecessary risks.

Multiple choice

Which social psychological concept refers to the tendency for people to conform to the opinions and behaviors of the majority?

  1. Groupthink

  2. Social Influence

  3. Social Loafing

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

Social Influence encompasses various forms of influence, including conformity, where individuals adjust their beliefs or behaviors to match those of the majority or a dominant group.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Hindsight Bias

  3. Illusory Correlation

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

Confirmation Bias refers to the tendency for individuals to seek out and interpret information that supports their existing beliefs, while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts them.

Multiple choice

Which social psychological concept describes the tendency for people 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 is the tendency for individuals to take credit for their successes while blaming external factors for their failures, maintaining a positive self-image.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for people to perceive ambiguous or random events as meaningful and connected?

  1. Illusory Correlation

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Hindsight Bias

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

Illusory Correlation refers to the tendency for individuals to perceive a relationship between two events or variables even when there is no actual connection between them.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for people to perceive events or situations in a more positive or negative light depending on how they are framed?

  1. Framing Effect

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Illusory Correlation

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

Framing Effect refers to the phenomenon where the way information is presented or framed can influence individuals' perceptions, judgments, and decisions.

Multiple choice

Which social psychological concept describes the tendency for people to conform to the opinions and behaviors of the majority, even when they know it is incorrect?

  1. Groupthink

  2. Social Influence

  3. Social Loafing

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

Groupthink occurs when individuals in a group suppress their own doubts or criticisms in order to maintain group cohesion and consensus, leading to potentially flawed decision-making.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the phenomenon where individuals tend 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 is the tendency for individuals to take credit for their successes while blaming external factors for their failures, maintaining a positive self-image.

Multiple choice

Which social psychological concept refers to the tendency for people to perceive and remember information in a way that confirms their existing beliefs and expectations?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Hindsight Bias

  3. Illusory Correlation

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

Confirmation Bias refers to the tendency for individuals to seek out and interpret information that supports their existing beliefs, while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts them.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for people to perceive ambiguous or random events as meaningful and connected?

  1. Illusory Correlation

  2. Confirmation Bias

  3. Hindsight Bias

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

Illusory Correlation refers to the tendency for individuals to perceive a relationship between two events or variables even when there is no actual connection between them.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of rare 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 occurs when people judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily they can recall instances of that event. This can lead to overestimating the likelihood of rare events that are easy to remember, such as plane crashes, and underestimating the likelihood of common events that are difficult to remember, such as car accidents.