A police officer expecting criminal behavior shoots a person who is reaching for his wallet because he perceives the suspect as reaching for a gun.This is a dangerous example of the
A) anthropomorphic error.
B) placebo effect.
C) observer bias.
D) observer effect.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Observer bias refers to the tendency of an observer to interpret an object or event in a way that confirms their preexisting beliefs or prejudices. In this case, the police officer's expectation of criminal behavior led them to perceive the suspect's action as reaching for a gun, even though they were actually reaching for their wallet. This is an example of observer bias and highlights the dangers of such biases in law enforcement.

A Police Officer Expecting Criminal Behavior Shoots a Person Who