Judge Kellogg has just read a case file in which a defendant who had committed statutory rape was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He is considering sentencing in a statutory rape case in which the prosecutor is asking for 10 years for the defendant. Instead of going with the 10 years recommended by the prosecutor, he chooses to impose a sentence of 22 years. Judge Kellogg's decision illustrates the ____ effect.

Question

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The anchoring effect is a cognitive bias that describes the common human tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information offered (the "anchor") when making decisions. In this case, the 25-year sentence Judge Kellogg read about served as an anchor, influencing him to impose a longer sentence than the prosecutor recommended.

Judge Kellogg Has Just Read a Case File in Which