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 for the tendency to attribute negative characteristics to members of other groups?

  1. Negative stereotyping

  2. Positive stereotyping

  3. In-group favoritism

  4. Out-group derogation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Negative stereotyping is the tendency to attribute negative characteristics to members of other groups. This bias can lead to the perception that members of other groups are inferior or less worthy than members of one's own group.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to hold negative attitudes towards members of other groups?

  1. Prejudice

  2. Discrimination

  3. Stereotyping

  4. In-group favoritism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Prejudice is the tendency to hold negative attitudes towards members of other groups. This bias can be based on a variety of factors, including race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to favor members of one's own group over members of other groups?

  1. In-group favoritism

  2. Out-group derogation

  3. Stereotyping

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

In-group favoritism is the tendency to favor members of one's own group over members of other groups. This bias can take many forms, including giving preferential treatment to members of one's own group, cooperating more with members of one's own group, and evaluating members of one's own group more positively than members of other groups.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency of television news to focus on negative and sensational events?

  1. News Bias

  2. Agenda-Setting

  3. Cultivation Effect

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

Negative Framing refers to the tendency of television news to present events in a negative light, which can influence public perception.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency of television news to focus on a limited number of stories, often at the expense of more important issues?

  1. News Bias

  2. Agenda-Setting

  3. Cultivation Effect

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

Narrowcasting refers to the tendency of television news to focus on a limited number of stories, often at the expense of more important issues.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency of television news to focus on stories that are visually appealing or emotionally charged?

  1. News Bias

  2. Agenda-Setting

  3. Cultivation Effect

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

Sensationalism refers to the tendency of television news to focus on stories that are visually appealing or emotionally charged, often at the expense of more important issues.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency of television news to focus on stories that are negative or conflict-driven?

  1. News Bias

  2. Agenda-Setting

  3. Cultivation Effect

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

Negativity Bias refers to the tendency of television news to focus on stories that are negative or conflict-driven, often at the expense of more positive stories.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe a clairvoyant's ability to perceive information about past events?

  1. Retrocognition

  2. Psychometry

  3. Clairaudience

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

Retrocognition refers to the ability to perceive information about past events that were not personally experienced by the clairvoyant.

Multiple choice

How do emotions influence consumer behavior?

  1. They can lead to impulsive purchases.

  2. They can affect brand preferences.

  3. They can shape perceptions of product quality.

  4. All of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Emotions can influence consumer behavior in various ways, including leading to impulsive purchases, affecting brand preferences, and shaping perceptions of product quality.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to conform to the opinions or behaviors of others?

  1. Social influence

  2. Groupthink

  3. Conformity

  4. Obedience
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Conformity is the process of changing one's behavior or beliefs in order to match those of a group or society.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Fundamental attribution error

  3. Confirmation bias

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

Self-serving bias is the tendency to attribute our own successes to internal factors (such as our skills or abilities) and our failures to external factors (such as bad luck or difficult circumstances).

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Hindsight bias

  3. Illusion of control

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

Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs, while ignoring or discounting information that contradicts them.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for group members to suppress their individual opinions in order to reach a consensus?

  1. Groupthink

  2. Social loafing

  3. Deindividuation

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

Groupthink is the tendency for group members to suppress their individual opinions in order to reach a consensus, even if that consensus is flawed.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for people to form positive attitudes toward those who are similar to them?

  1. In-group bias

  2. Out-group bias

  3. Social identity theory

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

In-group bias is the tendency for people to form positive attitudes toward those who are similar to them, while forming negative attitudes toward those who are different.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for people to form negative attitudes toward those who are different from them?

  1. In-group bias

  2. Out-group bias

  3. Social identity theory

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

Out-group bias is the tendency for people to form negative attitudes toward those who are different from them, while forming positive attitudes toward those who are similar.