A physician is trying to convince a man that he must give up smoking. The man initially believes that the probability of lung cancer is increased by only 10% if he smokes. Why are decision-making heuristics relevant to this situation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The man's initial belief that smoking only increases the risk of lung cancer by 10% sets a low anchor. This low estimate may influence his perception of the risk, making it difficult for him to adjust his beliefs even when presented with accurate information. Anchoring is a common heuristic where individuals rely too heavily on an initial piece of information (the "anchor") when making decisions.

A Physician Is Trying to Convince a Man That He