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 seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs and to avoid information that challenges them?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Framing effect

  3. Illusion of control

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

Confirmation bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when people seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs and avoid information that challenges them. This can lead to a distorted view of reality, as people are more likely to remember information that supports their beliefs and to forget information that contradicts them.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to be more persuaded by information that is presented in a positive frame than by information that is presented in a negative frame?

  1. Framing effect

  2. Illusion of control

  3. Negativity bias

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

The framing effect is a cognitive bias that occurs when people are more persuaded by information that is presented in a positive frame than by information that is presented in a negative frame. This can lead to different decisions being made depending on how the information is presented, even if the underlying facts are the same.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to believe that we have more control over events than we actually do?

  1. Illusion of control

  2. Negativity bias

  3. Optimism bias

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

The illusion of control is a cognitive bias that occurs when people believe that they have more control over events than they actually do. This can lead to a sense of overconfidence and to taking risks that we would not take if we were more realistic about our ability to control the outcome.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to focus on negative information more than on positive information?

  1. Negativity bias

  2. Optimism bias

  3. Self-serving bias

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

The negativity bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when people focus on negative information more than on positive information. This can lead to a distorted view of reality, as people are more likely to remember negative events and to forget positive events.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Social identity bias

  3. Confirmation bias

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

The self-serving bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when people attribute their successes to internal factors, such as their own ability or effort, and their failures to external factors, such as bad luck or the actions of others. This can lead to a distorted view of our own abilities and to a sense of overconfidence.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to favor our own group over other groups?

  1. Social identity bias

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Framing effect

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

Social identity bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when people favor their own group over other groups. This can lead to discrimination against members of other groups and to a sense of superiority over other groups.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to believe that we are better than average?

  1. Optimism bias

  2. Self-serving bias

  3. Social identity bias

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

The optimism bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when people believe that they are better than average. This can lead to unrealistic expectations and to taking risks that we would not take if we were more realistic about our abilities.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of positive events and to underestimate the likelihood of negative events?

  1. Optimism bias

  2. Self-serving bias

  3. Social identity bias

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

The optimism bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when people overestimate the likelihood of positive events and underestimate the likelihood of negative events. This can lead to unrealistic expectations and to taking risks that we would not take if we were more realistic about the chances of success.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Illusion of invulnerability

  2. Self-serving bias

  3. Social identity bias

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

The illusion of invulnerability is a cognitive bias that occurs when people believe that they are more likely to experience positive events and less likely to experience negative events than other people. This can lead to a sense of overconfidence and to taking risks that we would not take if we were more realistic about the chances of success.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to believe that we are more likely to experience positive events and less likely to experience negative events than other people?

  1. Illusion of invulnerability

  2. Self-serving bias

  3. Social identity bias

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

The illusion of invulnerability is a cognitive bias that occurs when people believe that they are more likely to experience positive events and less likely to experience negative events than other people. This can lead to a sense of overconfidence and to taking risks that we would not take if we were more realistic about the chances of success.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Illusion of invulnerability

  2. Self-serving bias

  3. Social identity bias

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

The illusion of invulnerability is a cognitive bias that occurs when people believe that they are more likely to experience positive events and less likely to experience negative events than other people. This can lead to a sense of overconfidence and to taking risks that we would not take if we were more realistic about the chances of success.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to believe that we are more likely to experience positive events and less likely to experience negative events than other people?

  1. Illusion of invulnerability

  2. Self-serving bias

  3. Social identity bias

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

The illusion of invulnerability is a cognitive bias that occurs when people believe that they are more likely to experience positive events and less likely to experience negative events than other people. This can lead to a sense of overconfidence and to taking risks that we would not take if we were more realistic about the chances of success.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Illusion of invulnerability

  2. Self-serving bias

  3. Social identity bias

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

The illusion of invulnerability is a cognitive bias that occurs when people believe that they are more likely to experience positive events and less likely to experience negative events than other people. This can lead to a sense of overconfidence and to taking risks that we would not take if we were more realistic about the chances of success.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias is characterized by the tendency to believe that we are more likely to experience positive events and less likely to experience negative events than other people?

  1. Illusion of invulnerability

  2. Self-serving bias

  3. Social identity bias

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

The illusion of invulnerability is a cognitive bias that occurs when people believe that they are more likely to experience positive events and less likely to experience negative events than other people. This can lead to a sense of overconfidence and to taking risks that we would not take if we were more realistic about the chances of success.

Multiple choice

Which psychological bias leads consumers to prefer products that are perceived as natural or organic, even if there is no scientific evidence to support their superiority?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Framing effect

  3. Availability heuristic

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

The naturalistic fallacy is the cognitive bias that leads consumers to assume that products labeled as natural or organic are inherently better for their health or the environment, regardless of scientific evidence.