Agatha Harkness-Smythe is determined to ban guns in the United States. This is a controversial topic and social scientists have debated whether the ownership of guns by citizens increases or decreases crime. Agatha could go to the library and look up studies on the linkage between guns and crime rates. Instead, Agatha just reads the local newspaper and only cuts out articles about robberies in which the "bad guy" used a firearm. Agatha is demonstrating ________.
A) mental set
B) confirmation bias
C) stereotype threat
D) mindlessness

Question

Agatha Harkness-Smythe is determined to ban guns in the United States. This is a controversial topic and social scientists have debated whether the ownership of guns by citizens increases or decreases crime. Agatha could go to the library and look up studies on the linkage between guns and crime rates. Instead, Agatha just reads the local newspaper and only cuts out articles about robberies in which the "bad guy" used a firearm. Agatha is demonstrating ________.
A) mental set 
B) confirmation bias 
C) stereotype threat
D) mindlessness

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Agatha is demonstrating confirmation bias by only seeking out and paying attention to information that confirms her beliefs about guns and not seeking out any contradictory evidence.

Agatha Harkness-Smythe Is Determined to Ban Guns in the United