Question 1

Recently experienced local weather conditions often have a greater impact on people's perceived threat of global climate warming than less memorable scientific data regarding long-term planetary weather trends.This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the statement is an example of the availability heuristic, in which people rely on the most easily available and memorable information (in this case, recent local weather) to make judgments about a larger, more abstract concept (global climate warming), rather than considering more objective, but less memorable, statistical data over longer periods of time.

Question 2

State lottery officials send residents a facsimile of a contest-winning check for over $5 million to encourage them to imagine themselves as possible winners.The lottery promoters are most clearly exploiting the influence of

Accepted Answer

The lottery officials are using the availability heuristic to influence residents. The availability heuristic refers to our tendency to overestimate the likelihood of events that are more easily recalled or readily available in memory. By sending out a facsimile of a contest-winning check for over $5 million, the lottery officials are making it more easily available in people's minds and increasing their perception of the likelihood that they could also win a similar prize.

Question 3

After learning that her two best friends had lost their jobs,Mariah began to grossly overestimate the national unemployment rate.Mariah's reaction best illustrates the consequences of

Accepted Answer

Mariah's gross overestimation of the national unemployment rate is an example of the availability heuristic, which is the tendency to rely on easily accessible or memorable examples when making judgments or decisions. In this case, Mariah's personal experience with her friends losing their jobs was more salient and accessible to her than statistics about the actual national unemployment rate, causing her to overestimate how common unemployment was.

Question 4

In suggesting that our ancestral history has prepared us to fear snakes,psychologists are emphasizing that what we fear is influenced by

Accepted Answer

The suggestion that our fear of snakes is rooted in our ancestral history implies that our fear is a result of genetic factors, specifically evolution and natural selection favoring individuals who were more likely to avoid dangerous snakes.

Question 5

Students were asked to figure out the rule used to devise the three-number sequence 2-4-6.After generating sets of three numbers to learn whether their sets met the rule,they typically convinced themselves of the wrong rule.Their errors best illustrate the impact of

Accepted Answer

The students' tendency to generate sets of three numbers that confirmed their initial hypothesis reflects confirmation bias, the cognitive bias of seeking out and favoring information that confirms one's beliefs or hypotheses.

Question 6

Kevin succeeds in getting his children to do chores by using threats.He fails to recognize that kindness would be even more effective in gaining their cooperation.Kevin's shortsightedness best illustrates a consequence of

Accepted Answer

Kevin's shortsightedness in recognizing the effectiveness of kindness suggests that he may have developed a mental set, or a habitual way of approaching problems, that emphasizes coercion or threat rather than positive reinforcement.

Question 7

Failing to recognize our potential for error is best demonstrated by

Accepted Answer

Overconfidence refers to the tendency to overestimate our own abilities and the accuracy of our beliefs and predictions. It often leads us to make errors in judgment and decision-making, as we fail to recognize the potential for error or uncertainty.

Question 8

Many people perceive carjackings as more serious threats to their lives than failing to use seatbelts because carjackings are so much more memorable.This best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question pertains to the availability heuristic, which is a mental shortcut whereby we judge the likelihood or importance of events based on their availability in memory or the ease of mentally constructing them. Because carjackings are more memorable events that receive significant media coverage, people may overestimate the likelihood of being targeted by a carjacker compared to the risk of injury or death from failing to use seatbelts.

Question 9

The availability heuristic refers to our tendency to

Accepted Answer

The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut where we estimate the likelihood of an event based on how easily we can remember instances of it occurring. We tend to rely on this heuristic when we don't have all the information available or don't want to put in the effort to gather all the necessary information.

Question 10

The tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions is called

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias is the tendency to look for information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that challenges them.

Question 11

Many people overestimate how long they actually remain awake during restless nights because their moments of wakefulness are easier to recall than their moments of sleep.This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

The availability heuristic is the cognitive bias that describes our tendency to rely on easily accessible information to make judgments or solve problems. In this case, people are more likely to remember the moments they were awake during a restless night, leading them to overestimate how long they were actually awake.

Question 12

Steve was sure he answered at least 70 questions correctly on his biology test.In fact,he was right on only 55 items.Steve's misjudgment of his test performance illustrates

Accepted Answer

Steve's misjudgment of his test performance is an example of overconfidence bias, where an individual tends to have an excessive degree of confidence in their abilities or knowledge without objective evidence to support it. Steve thought he had answered at least 70 questions correctly, but in reality, he only answered 55 correctly. This shows his overconfidence bias as he overestimated his performance.

Question 13

Myra has such low self-esteem that she is often on the lookout for critical comments about her appearance and personality.Myra's behavior best illustrates the dangers of

Accepted Answer

Myra's behavior of seeking out critical comments about herself is an example of confirmation bias, which is the tendency to seek out information that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or opinions. In this case, Myra's low self-esteem leads her to focus on negative comments about herself, while ignoring positive feedback, which can further reinforce her negative self-image.

Question 14

Brainstorming sessions that encourage people to spontaneously suggest new and unusual solutions to a problem are designed to avoid

Accepted Answer

The answer of Brainstorming sessions that encourage people to spontaneously...

Question 15

Emotion-laden images of unusual but vivid cases of abducted children may lead many parents to experience exaggerated fears of letting their children walk to school.The exaggerated fears best illustrate the impact of

Accepted Answer

The question describes emotion-laden images of unusual cases, which can have a strong impact on people's perceptions and judgments. This phenomenon is known as the availability heuristic, which is the tendency to rely on easily available information or vivid examples to make judgments or decisions. In this case, the emotional images of abducted children may make parents overestimate the likelihood of such a scenario occurring and become more fearful.

Question 16

Jahmal cites his cousin Luana's many car accidents as evidence that women are worse drivers than men.He overlooks the fact that his wife and three daughters have had far fewer car accidents than he and his two sons.Jahmal's prejudicial conclusion about women's driving skills best illustrates the effects of

Accepted Answer

Jahmal's selective focus on his cousin Luana's accidents and failure to consider the experience of his wife and daughters demonstrate confirmation bias, or the tendency to search for and interpret information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.

Question 17

A fixation refers to an inability to

Accepted Answer

Fixation refers to getting stuck on a particular way of thinking and being unable to see a problem from a fresh perspective. This can impede problem-solving abilities and creativity. Options A, B, and D do not accurately capture the definition of fixation.

Question 18

A mental set is a

Accepted Answer

A mental set refers to a tendency to approach a problem or situation in a specific way based on past experiences and knowledge that have been successful in the past. It can sometimes prevent individuals from finding more creative or effective solutions to problems.

Question 19

Many people underestimate the proportion of heart attacks that are not fatal because they are not as memorable as heart attacks resulting in death.This illustrates the shortcoming of relying on

Accepted Answer

The availability heuristic is the tendency to judge the probability or frequency of an event based on how easily examples of it come to mind. In this case, people are more likely to remember and recall fatal heart attacks, leading to an overestimation of their frequency and underestimation of non-fatal heart attacks. This illustrates the shortcoming of relying on the availability heuristic.

Question 20

Our intuitions are feelings and thoughts that are best described as

Accepted Answer

Intuitions are often described as automatic, meaning they occur without conscious effort or reasoning. Intuitive thoughts and feelings can arise quickly and without necessarily following a systematic or explicit thought process.

Quiz 10: Thinking and Language