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 used to describe the tendency for individuals to attribute their successes to external factors and their failures to internal factors?

  1. Self-Serving Bias

  2. Fundamental Attribution Error

  3. Illusory Correlation

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

Fundamental Attribution Error refers to the tendency to attribute the behavior of others to internal factors, such as their personality or intentions, while attributing one's own behavior to external factors, such as the situation or circumstances.

Multiple choice

What is the self-serving bias?

  1. The tendency to attribute positive outcomes to internal factors and negative outcomes to external factors

  2. The tendency to attribute negative outcomes to internal factors and positive outcomes to external factors

  3. The tendency to attribute all outcomes to internal factors

  4. The tendency to attribute all outcomes to external factors
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The self-serving bias is the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to internal factors (such as our own abilities or efforts) and negative outcomes to external factors (such as bad luck or other people's actions).

Multiple choice

What is the fundamental attribution error?

  1. The tendency to attribute others' behavior to internal factors and our own behavior to external factors

  2. The tendency to attribute our own behavior to internal factors and others' behavior to external factors

  3. The tendency to attribute all behavior to internal factors

  4. The tendency to attribute all behavior to external factors
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to attribute others' behavior to internal factors (such as their personality or intentions) and our own behavior to external factors (such as the situation or other people's actions).

Multiple choice

What is the elaboration likelihood model?

  1. The theory that our attitudes are formed through a process of careful consideration and evaluation of information

  2. The theory that our attitudes are formed through a process of simple exposure to information

  3. The theory that our attitudes are formed through a process of social influence

  4. The theory that our attitudes are formed through a process of personal experience
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The elaboration likelihood model is the theory that our attitudes are formed through a process of careful consideration and evaluation of information. This theory suggests that our attitudes are more likely to be strong and resistant to change if we have carefully considered and evaluated the information relevant to the attitude.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to conform to the beliefs and behaviors of others?

  1. Social conformity

  2. Social influence

  3. Peer pressure

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

Social conformity is the tendency to change one's own beliefs or behaviors in order to match those of a group.

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 abilities or efforts) and our failures to external factors (such as bad luck or difficult circumstances).

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a type of cognitive bias?

  1. Confirmation bias

  2. Hindsight bias

  3. Illusion of control

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

Optimism bias is not a type of cognitive bias. Confirmation bias, hindsight bias, and illusion of control are all types of cognitive biases.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to perceive others as being more similar to ourselves than they actually are?

  1. Similarity bias

  2. Liking bias

  3. Halo effect

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

Similarity bias is the tendency to perceive others as being more similar to ourselves than they actually are. This bias can lead us to overestimate how much others like us and to underestimate how different they are from us.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to form close relationships with people who are similar to us?

  1. Homophily

  2. Social bonding

  3. Social support

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

Homophily is the tendency to form close relationships with people who are similar to us. This bias can lead to the formation of social groups that are based on shared characteristics, such as race, religion, or socioeconomic status.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to favor our own group and to discriminate against other groups?

  1. In-group bias

  2. Out-group homogeneity

  3. Social identity theory

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

In-group bias is the tendency to favor our own group and to discriminate against other groups. This bias can lead to conflict and prejudice between groups.

Multiple choice

What is implicit bias?

  1. A preference for one group of people over another

  2. An unconscious bias that affects decision-making

  3. A belief that one group of people is superior to another

  4. A conscious bias that affects decision-making
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Implicit bias is an unconscious bias that affects decision-making. It is not a preference for one group of people over another, a belief that one group of people is superior to another, or a conscious bias that affects decision-making.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute our own emotions to others?

  1. Projection

  2. Displacement

  3. Rationalization

  4. Sublimation

  5. Reaction Formation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Projection is the tendency to attribute our own emotions, thoughts, and motives to others, even when there is no evidence to support this attribution.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to conform to the opinions or behaviors of others, even when we know that they are incorrect?

  1. Normative Social Influence

  2. Informational Social Influence

  3. Conformity

  4. Compliance

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

Normative Social Influence is the tendency to conform to the opinions or behaviors of others, even when we know that they are incorrect, in order to be accepted by the group.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Self-Serving Bias

  2. Fundamental Attribution Error

  3. Confirmation Bias

  4. Hindsight Bias

  5. 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 and our own failures to external factors.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to perceive others as being more similar to ourselves than they actually are?

  1. Projection

  2. Illusion of Similarity

  3. Confirmation Bias

  4. Fundamental Attribution Error

  5. Self-Serving Bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Illusion of Similarity is the tendency to perceive others as being more similar to ourselves than they actually are.