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 tendency to perceive ambiguous situations as threatening or dangerous called?

  1. Negativity Bias

  2. Positivity Bias

  3. Optimism Bias

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

Negativity Bias refers to the tendency for individuals to perceive ambiguous situations as threatening or dangerous, often leading to heightened emotional responses.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias leads individuals to overestimate the likelihood of rare events?

  1. Availability Heuristic

  2. Representativeness Heuristic

  3. Framing Effect

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

Availability Heuristic refers to the tendency for individuals to overestimate the likelihood of rare events based on their ease of recall or how readily they come to mind.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon of people believing that a political party or group is responsible for a negative outcome, even if there is no evidence to support this belief?

  1. Political scapegoating

  2. Political polarization

  3. Political ideology

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

Political scapegoating is the process of blaming a political party or group for a negative outcome, even if there is no evidence to support this belief. This can be a powerful tool for political manipulation, as it can be used to rally support for a particular party or policy.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the unconscious assumptions and beliefs that shape our perception of the world?

  1. Cultural biases

  2. Stereotypes

  3. Prejudices

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

Cultural biases are the unconscious assumptions and beliefs that shape our perception of the world and influence our interactions with people from different cultures.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias can lead detectives to focus on information that confirms their initial hypothesis?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Hindsight Bias

  3. Framing Effect

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

Confirmation bias can lead detectives to seek out information that supports their initial theory, while ignoring evidence that contradicts it.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency to remember information that is consistent with our expectations?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Hindsight Bias

  3. Framing Effect

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

Confirmation bias can lead detectives to focus on information that confirms their initial hypothesis, while ignoring evidence that contradicts it.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias can lead detectives to focus on information that confirms their initial hypothesis?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Hindsight Bias

  3. Framing Effect

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

Confirmation bias can lead detectives to seek out information that supports their initial theory, while ignoring evidence that contradicts it.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the tendency to remember information that is consistent with our expectations?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Hindsight Bias

  3. Framing Effect

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

Confirmation bias can lead detectives to focus on information that confirms their initial hypothesis, while ignoring evidence that contradicts it.

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias can lead detectives to focus on information that confirms their initial hypothesis?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Hindsight Bias

  3. Framing Effect

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

Confirmation bias can lead detectives to seek out information that supports their initial theory, while ignoring evidence that contradicts it.

Multiple choice

According to the Cognitive-Mediation Theory, how do viewers' thoughts and beliefs influence their emotional responses to television programs?

  1. They filter out information that is inconsistent with their beliefs.

  2. They interpret ambiguous information in a way that is consistent with their beliefs.

  3. They remember information that is consistent with their beliefs more easily.

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

The Cognitive-Mediation Theory proposes that viewers' thoughts and beliefs influence their emotional responses to television programs in a variety of ways, including filtering out information, interpreting ambiguous information, and remembering information.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the process by which television programs can influence viewers' perceptions of the frequency and severity of certain events?

  1. Agenda-Setting Theory

  2. Priming Theory

  3. Framing Theory

  4. Spiral of Silence Theory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Priming Theory suggests that television programs can influence viewers' perceptions of the frequency and severity of certain events by making those events more salient in their minds.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the process by which television programs can influence viewers' willingness to speak out about their opinions?

  1. Agenda-Setting Theory

  2. Priming Theory

  3. Framing Theory

  4. Spiral of Silence Theory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Spiral of Silence Theory suggests that television programs can influence viewers' willingness to speak out about their opinions by creating a climate of fear or isolation.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the process by which television programs can influence viewers' perceptions of the importance of certain issues?

  1. Agenda-Setting Theory

  2. Priming Theory

  3. Framing Theory

  4. Spiral of Silence Theory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Agenda-Setting Theory proposes that television programs can influence viewers' perceptions of the importance of certain issues by shaping their perceptions of the frequency and severity of those issues.

Multiple choice

Which theory suggests that television programs can influence viewers' perceptions of the causes and consequences of certain events?

  1. Agenda-Setting Theory

  2. Priming Theory

  3. Framing Theory

  4. Spiral of Silence Theory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Framing Theory proposes that television programs can influence viewers' perceptions of the causes and consequences of certain events by presenting different perspectives on those events.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where consumers buy more expensive or luxurious items during economic downturns?

  1. Lipstick effect

  2. Retail therapy

  3. Conspicuous consumption

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

The lipstick effect refers to the tendency for consumers to purchase small, affordable luxuries, such as lipstick, during economic downturns as a way to cope with financial stress.