Question 1

Just passing by a person who sneezes and coughs heightens our perceptions of various health risks. This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut in which people make judgments based on the ease with which they can bring something to mind. In this case, the person who sneezes and coughs is readily available in our minds and leads us to overestimate the prevalence of health risks.

Question 2

By encouraging people to imagine their homes being destroyed by winds from a hurricane, insurance salespeople are especially successful at selling large homeowners' policies. They are most clearly exploiting the influence of

Accepted Answer

The insurance salespeople are exploiting the availability heuristic, where people tend to overestimate the likelihood of events that are easily brought to mind (such as a hurricane destroying their home).

Question 3

Stockbrokers often believe that their own expertise will enable them to select stocks that will outperform the market average. This belief best illustrates

Accepted Answer

This belief of stockbrokers is an example of overconfidence bias, which is the tendency to overestimate one's own abilities or knowledge. Stockbrokers may believe that they have an edge in selecting stocks that will outperform the market, but research has shown that most active fund managers underperform the market average over the long run.

Question 4

When Quang couldn't find his wallet, he began to wonder about his roommate's honesty. Although Quang later recalled that he had left his wallet in the glove compartment of his own car, he continued to doubt his roommate's honesty. Quang's irrational thinking best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Quang's continued doubt about his roommate's honesty, even after recalling where he left his wallet, demonstrates belief perseverance, which is the tendency to cling to one's initial beliefs even after they have been discredited.

Question 5

Dean overestimates the proportion of family chores for which he takes sole responsibility because it's easier for him to recall what he has done than to recall what other family members have done. This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes the availability heuristic, which is the tendency to overestimate the frequency or likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind. In this case, Dean is more likely to remember the chores he has personally taken care of than those done by others, and therefore overestimates his own contribution to the household chores.

Question 6

A televised image of a starving child had a greater impact on Mr. White's perception of the extensiveness of world hunger than did a statistical chart summarizing the tremendous scope of the problem. This suggests that his assessment of the world hunger problem is influenced by

Accepted Answer

The fact that the televised image of a starving child had a greater impact on Mr. White's perception than the statistical chart suggests that his assessment is influenced by the availability heuristic. The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut that involves basing judgments on the most readily available information, which in this case was the vivid image of a starving child.

Question 7

Stockbrokers who market their services with confidence that they can outperform the market average in picking stocks are especially likely to

Accepted Answer

Stockbrokers who exude confidence in their ability to outperform the market average may appear credible to their customers and gain their trust. This confidence could potentially lead to more business and increased profits for the stockbroker.

Question 8

Research findings suggest that the best advice to give people who want to avoid belief perseverance is

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that one effective method to avoid belief perseverance is to consider the opposite of one's beliefs. This can help individuals challenge their own beliefs and consider alternative viewpoints. Other options like trying to justify one's positions, avoiding hasty conclusions, and being objective can also be helpful, but considering the opposite has been found to be the most effective.

Question 9

When Larina started college, she was certain that she would never smoke marijuana. By the end of her freshman year, however, Larina had used this drug on three different occasions. Larina's experience best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Larina's experience illustrates overconfidence, as she was initially certain she would never smoke marijuana, but her actions contradicted her initial belief.

Question 10

Our tendency to judge the likelihood of an event on the basis of how readily we can remember instances of its occurrence is called

Accepted Answer

The tendency to judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily we can bring examples to mind (i.e. availability of information) is known as the availability heuristic. This is different from framing (the way information is presented) and confirmation bias/belief perseverance (the tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms previously held beliefs).

Question 11

A single, memorable case of welfare fraud can have a greater impact on people's estimates of welfare abuse than do statistics showing that this case is actually the exception to the rule. This illustrates that judgments are influenced by

Accepted Answer

The given scenario shows that people's judgments are influenced by the availability heuristic, which refers to people relying on readily available information or examples that come to mind when making judgments, rather than taking into account statistical data or evidence. The single, memorable case of welfare fraud is more salient and vivid in people's minds, and therefore has a greater impact on their judgments than do statistical data showing that such cases are rare occurrences.

Question 12

We fear too little those events that will claim lives

Accepted Answer

The wording of the statement suggests that we do not give enough attention to events or situations that claim lives in an undramatic manner. Accidents (option A) may sometimes receive extensive coverage in the media and may be a cause for concern. Similarly, the phrase "one person at a time" (option D) suggests that the statement is referring to events that occur gradually or over time, whereas the statement refers to events that we fear too little. Option C ("in the near future") is not necessarily related to the statement and is not supported by the given information. Option B is the best choice because it directly addresses the undramatic nature of the events or situations that claim lives, indicating that we do not fear them enough.

Question 13

People with opposing views of capital punishment reviewed mixed evidence regarding its effectiveness as a crime deterrent. As a result, their opposing views differed more strongly than ever. This best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Belief perseverance refers to the tendency to cling to initial beliefs even in the face of conflicting evidence. In this situation, despite the mixed evidence regarding the effectiveness of capital punishment as a crime deterrent, people's opposing views became more strongly held, indicating belief perseverance. The framing effect, overconfidence, and the availability heuristic do not fully capture this phenomenon.

Question 14

The indelible memories of the 9/11 terrorist tragedy unduly inflated many people's estimates of the risks associated with air travel. This best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

The availability heuristic refers to the tendency to base judgments on the readily available information in our memories, and the 9/11 terrorist tragedy is an example of how an event can become highly available in memory and thus lead people to overestimate the risk of flying.

Question 15

The value of making a good first impression when you begin work for a new employer is best underscored by the research on

Accepted Answer

The answer of The value of making a good first...

Question 16

The overconfidence phenomenon refers to the tendency to

Accepted Answer

The overconfidence phenomenon refers to the tendency to underestimate the extent to which our beliefs and judgments are inaccurate. This can manifest in situations such as overestimating our abilities, being overly confident in our predictions or decisions, and ignoring or dismissing contradictory evidence.

Question 17

Wording a question or presenting an issue in such a way that it evokes a desired judgment is called

Accepted Answer

Framing refers to the use of language or presentation of an issue in such a way that it influences the way people perceive and evaluate it. By emphasizing certain aspects and downplaying others, the communicator can shape the audience's viewpoint and potentially influence their decision-making. This technique is often used in marketing, politics, and media to sway public opinion or promote a particular agenda.

Question 18

An unwillingness to give up our beliefs even when the evidence proves us wrong is called

Accepted Answer

Belief perseverance refers to the human tendency to cling to our existing beliefs or assumptions, even in the face of evidence showing that those beliefs are incorrect. The other options are not as accurate in describing this phenomenon. The availability heuristic refers to the tendency to rely on easily accessible examples, rather than systematically considering all relevant information. Trial and error is a problem-solving strategy that involves experimenting with different approaches until one is found that works. Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms our preexisting beliefs.

Question 19

Which of the following best accounts for people's greater fear of commercial air flights than of driving an automobile?

Accepted Answer

Perceived control is the extent to which individuals believe they have control over a situation. When driving a car, individuals have direct control over the vehicle which reduces their fear. However, when flying in a commercial airplane, individuals have little to no control over the aircraft, which can increase their fear.

Question 20

In writing survey questions, political pollsters who want to gather evidence of people's support for particular viewpoints are especially likely to understand the impact of

Accepted Answer

Framing refers to the way that survey questions are worded and how that wording can influence respondents' answers. Political pollsters will often use framing to try to elicit certain responses and gather evidence of support for particular viewpoints.

Quiz 27: Thinking