Suppose that Greg and Marsha both apply for a prestigious scholarship program, and both get rejected. Greg finds out that his application was flat out rejected (he never had a chance), while Marsha finds out that she was the first runner up (she nearly won). Who is likely to be more disappointed? Why?
A) Greg-because of the simulation heuristic
B) Greg-because of the confirmation bias
C) Marsha-because of the simulation heuristic
D) Marsha-because of the confirmation bias

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The simulation heuristic suggests that people tend to focus on the outcomes that almost happened and imagine what could have been, leading to increased disappointment. In this case, Marsha being the first runner up likely makes her imagine what could have been and therefore leads to greater disappointment. The confirmation bias does not apply in this scenario as both individuals received different levels of rejection, making any bias towards their expectation unlikely.

Suppose That Greg and Marsha Both Apply for a Prestigious