Cognitive Bias Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is cognitive bias primarily characterized by?

A balanced judgment process

An accurate assessment of situations

A systematic error in judgment (correct)

An objective decision-making process

Which type of cognitive bias involves attributing others' successes to luck?

Confirmation bias

External attribution bias

Self-serving bias (correct)

Actor-observer bias

What does the actor-observer bias suggest about negative events?

They can be attributed to one's own behavior.

They are always due to external circumstances.

They are a reflection of personal flaws.

They are often blamed on others' behavior. (correct)

Which of the following is an example of cognitive bias in decision-making?

Believing you are always right Signup and view all the answers

What does confirmation bias encourage individuals to do?

Only engage with information that supports their viewpoint Signup and view all the answers

How does cognitive bias typically affect conclusions drawn by individuals?

Results in inaccurate or unreasonable conclusions Signup and view all the answers

Which thought pattern exemplifies the idea that 'everyone is responsible for their behavior, except me'?

Self-serving bias Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception associated with cognitive bias?

It can influence personal and social decisions. Signup and view all the answers

Which bias involves a person's belief that their own perspective is the norm?

False consensus effect Signup and view all the answers

What effect does cognitive bias have on the perception of news sources?

Leads to selective exposure to confirming information Signup and view all the answers

What is optimism bias?

Both A and C Signup and view all the answers

How does self-serving bias influence an individual's perspective on success or failure?

They credit themselves for successes and blame outside factors for failures. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the Dunning-Kruger effect?

People overestimate their skills due to ignorance. Signup and view all the answers

What is a stereotype?

An oversimplified belief that all members of a group share characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between prejudice and stereotyping?

Stereotyping is a belief, while prejudice is a reaction based on that belief. Signup and view all the answers

What can lead to prejudice in individuals?

Stereotyping and preconceived notions about groups. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios exemplifies self-serving bias?

A salesperson credits their skills for a successful month. Signup and view all the answers

Why might someone engage in optimism bias regarding health risks?

They believe they are less likely to experience negative events due to personal reasons. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of anchoring bias on decision-making?

It causes us to rely too heavily on the first piece of information we receive. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes attentional bias?

A pattern in which our perceptions are guided by recurring thoughts. Signup and view all the answers

How does confirmation bias impact our information-seeking behavior?

It encourages us to seek out evidence that confirms our existing beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception associated with false-consensus bias?

Individuals think their opinions are shared by a majority. Signup and view all the answers

Which example illustrates attentional bias the most clearly?

Someone who only remembers instances of plane crashes and ignores how safe flying generally is. Signup and view all the answers

In what situation would anchoring bias most likely result in a poor decision?

When the initial piece of information is misleading. Signup and view all the answers

What might be a typical reaction of someone influenced by confirmation bias?

They will actively seek supporting information for their personal beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

How can false-consensus bias affect social interactions?

It leads to misjudgments about others' opinions and reactions. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cognitive Bias

A systematic error in judgment and decision-making.
Leads to inaccurate or unreasonable conclusions.

Examples of Cognitive Bias

Confirmation Bias: Seeking information that supports existing beliefs while dismissing evidence that contradicts them.
- Example: A person who doesn't believe in climate change will only seek out information that supports their belief.
Actor-Observer Bias: Tendency to attribute negative events to others' behavior but not to your own.
- Example: Seeing a car accident, a person may blame the driver but not consider their own actions.
Optimism Bias: Overestimating the likelihood of experiencing positive events and underestimating negative ones.
- Example: A person may smoke despite knowing the health risks, believing they are not susceptible to cancer.
Self-Serving Bias: Attributing successes to internal factors and failures to external factors.
Dunning-Kruger Effect: Overestimating one's knowledge or ability, especially in areas with limited knowledge or experience.
- This is due to a lack of knowledge about a subject, poor self-awareness, and low cognitive ability.
Anchoring Bias: Clinging to the first piece of information received to base decisions upon. It can be difficult to modify this anchor with new information.
- Example: A person told to wait 30 minutes for a reservation will find 35 minutes frustrating.
Attentional Bias: Perception of the world is influenced strongly by reoccurring thoughts – what we pay attention to.
- Can lead to poor decision-making as we do not weigh all the pros and cons.
- Example: Most planes are safe, but one plane crash can lead someone to believe that flying in dangerous.
False-Consensus Bias: Overestimating the extent to which other people are like you, think like you, and act like you.
- People assume others are more like them than they actually are.
- Example: Making racist or sexist comments, assuming friends won't find it offensive.

Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Stereotyping (the belief): Believing that people belong to a certain group, regardless of individual differences.
- Example: A person having a good car and being wealthy is considered selfish.
Prejudice (the attitude): Holding a positive or negative attitude towards members of a group based solely on their group membership.
- Example: Women, men, race, or religion.
- Stereotyping can lead to prejudice.

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Description

Explore the fascinating world of cognitive biases that affect our judgment and decision-making. This quiz delves into various examples such as confirmation bias, actor-observer bias, and optimism bias, highlighting their implications in everyday life. Test your knowledge on how these biases shape our conclusions and self-perceptions.