Social Psychology Week 5

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary difference between top-down processing and bottom-up processing?

Top-down processing ignores prior knowledge, while bottom-up processing does not.

Top-down is concept driven, while bottom-up is perception based. (correct)

Top-down is data driven while bottom-up uses prior knowledge.

Top-down processes rely heavily on sensory input, whereas bottom-up processes rely on preconceptions.

Which heuristic suggests that individuals judge the frequency of occurrences based on how easily they can remember similar occurrences?

Representativeness heuristic

Anchoring heuristic

Status quo heuristic

Availability heuristic (correct)

What does status quo heuristic explain in decision making?

The tendency to be influenced by irrelevant information.

Decision making based on logical analysis rather than assumptions.

Preference for change and adaptation to new situations.

Believing the current state of affairs is optimal. (correct)

Which of the following best describes the representativeness heuristic?

Assuming someone belongs to a group based on their similarities to group members. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential drawback of using heuristics in decision-making?

They are not always accurate and can lead to biases. Signup and view all the answers

How does the anchoring and adjustment heuristic function in decision making?

By relying on an irrelevant initial figure to make subsequent judgments. Signup and view all the answers

What cognitive bias is demonstrated when vague personality statements are perceived as accurate by many individuals?

Barnum effect Signup and view all the answers

What primary role does heuristics play in decision making when information is scarce?

Heuristics simplify choices by reducing cognitive load. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of schemas in social cognition?

To organize and guide social information processing Signup and view all the answers

How do schemas influence attention in social cognition?

They direct attention to consistent information Signup and view all the answers

What does cognitive load refer to in the context of dual processing?

The amount of mental processing we can handle at once Signup and view all the answers

What effect does priming have on schemas?

It heightens the activation of a schema due to context Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes automatic thinking in social cognition?

It is nonconscious, unintentional, and effortless Signup and view all the answers

What process does cognitive load shifting facilitate?

Switching between intuition and logic in thinking Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the retrieval process in schemas?

More consistent information is remembered, but inconsistent information can be recalled as well Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of unpriming on schemas?

It diminishes the potential activation of a schema Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Processing

Top-down processing relies on prior knowledge, expectations, and context to interpret sensory information. It is a conceptually-driven approach.
Bottom-up processing starts with sensory input and works its way up to higher-level processing. It is data-driven.

Availability Heuristic

The availability heuristic suggests individuals judge the frequency of events based on how readily they can recall examples.

Status Quo Heuristic

The status quo heuristic explains the tendency to favor the current state of affairs when making decisions.

Representativeness Heuristic

The representativeness heuristic evaluates the likelihood of something based on how well it matches a prototype or stereotype.

Drawbacks of Heuristics

A potential drawback of using heuristics is that they can lead to cognitive biases, which are systematic errors in thinking.

Anchoring and Adjustment Heuristic

The anchoring and adjustment heuristic involves starting with an initial anchor value and then adjusting it based on available information.

Barnum Effect

The Barnum effect describes the tendency to perceive vague personality statements as accurate, even though they could apply to almost anyone.

Heuristics in Scarce Information Environments

When information is scarce, heuristics play a crucial role in helping us make decisions quickly and efficiently.

Schemas are mental frameworks that organize our knowledge about people, objects, and events. They help us make sense of the world.

Schemas and Attention

Schemas influence attention by guiding us to pay attention to information that is consistent with our existing beliefs and expectations.

Cognitive Load in Dual Processing

Cognitive load refers to the mental effort required to process information. When cognitive load is high, we are more likely to rely on automatic processes.

Priming and Schemas

Priming refers to the activation of a schema by exposure to a related stimulus. Priming can make a schema more accessible and likely to influence our behavior.

Automatic Thinking

Automatic thinking is characterized by being effortless, unconscious, and based on heuristics and schemas.

Cognitive Load Shifting

Cognitive Load Shifting facilitates a smooth transition between automatic and controlled processing depending on cognitive load.

Schema Retrieval Process

The retrieval process in schemas involves accessing and bringing to mind relevant information from a schema.

Unpriming and Schemas

Unpriming refers to the deactivation of a schema after exposure to a related stimulus. This can help reduce the influence of a schema on our judgments and behavior.

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts of cognitive biases and heuristics in decision-making within cognitive psychology. Test your understanding of top-down and bottom-up processing, various heuristics, and the role of schemas. It's essential for anyone looking to enhance their grasp of psychological decision-making processes.