Logical Fallacies & Cognitive Biases

What is the self-serving bias?

• This type of bias refers to the tendency to seek out information that supports something you already believe, and is a particularly pernicious subset of cognitive bias—you remember the hits and forget the misses, which is a flaw in human reasoning.

• This type of bias pertains to those who rely too heavily on the first piece of information they receive—an “anchoring” fact— and base all subsequent judgments or opinions on this fact.

• This bias refers to how we as humans are more likely to estimate a negative outcome if we are in a bad mood.

• This type of bias is an assumption that good things happen to us when we’ve done all the right things, but bad things happen to us because of circumstances outside our control or things other people purport.

What is the Dunning-Kruger Effect?

• This type of bias refers to the tendency to seek out information that supports something you already believe, and is a particularly pernicious subset of cognitive bias—you remember the hits and forget the misses, which is a flaw in human reasoning.

• This type of bias pertains to those who rely too heavily on the first piece of information they receive—an “anchoring” fact— and base all subsequent judgments or opinions on this fact.

• This bias refers to how we as humans are more likely to estimate a positive outcome if we are in a good mood.

• This particular bias refers to how people perceive a concept or event to be simplistic just because their knowledge about it may be simple or lacking—the less you know about something, the less complicated it may appear.

Which is an example of ad hominem?

• George Bush is a good communicator because he speaks effectively.

• We can either stop using cars or destroy the earth.

• Green Peace's strategies aren't effective because they are all dirty, lazy hippies.

• Filthy and polluting coal should be banned.

What is hindsight bias?

• This type of bias is when people perceive events to be more predictable after they happen.

• This type of bias pertains to those who rely too heavily on the first piece of information they receive—an “anchoring” fact— and base all subsequent judgments or opinions on this fact.

• This type of bias refers to how people are more likely to support or believe someone within their own social group than an outsider.

• This particular bias refers to how people perceive a concept or event to be simplistic just because their knowledge about it may be simple or lacking—the less you know about something, the less complicated it may appear.

What is in-group bias?

• This bias refers to the tendency to allow our impression of a person, company, or business in one domain influence our overall impression of the person or entity.

• This type of bias refers to how people are more likely to support or believe someone within their own social group than an outsider.

• This particular bias refers to how people perceive a concept or event to be simplistic just because their knowledge about it may be simple or lacking—the less you know about something, the less complicated it may appear.

• This type of bias refers to the preference to keep things in their current state, while regarding any type of change as a loss.

What is the fundamental attribution error?

• This type of bias refers to the tendency to seek out information that supports something you already believe, and is a particularly pernicious subset of cognitive bias—you remember the hits and forget the misses, which is a flaw in human reasoning.

• This bias refers to how we as humans are more likely to estimate a positive outcome if we are in a good mood.

• This type of bias is when people perceive events to be more predictable after they happen.

• This bias refers to the tendency to attribute someone’s particular behaviors to existing, unfounded stereotypes while attributing our own similar behavior to external factors.

What is either/or fallacy?

• This is an appeal that presents what most people, or a group of people think, in order to persuade one to think the same way.

• This is a conclusion that oversimplifies the argument by reducing it to only two sides or choices.

• This is an attack on the character of a person rather than his or her opinions or arguments.

• This is a diversionary tactic that avoids the key issues, often by avoiding opposing arguments rather than addressing them.

What is availability bias?

• This bias refers to how we as humans are more likely to estimate a negative outcome if we are in a bad mood.

• This bias refers to the tendency to attribute someone’s particular behaviors to existing, unfounded stereotypes while attributing our own similar behavior to external factors.

• This type of bias refers to the tendency to use the information we can quickly recall when evaluating a topic or idea—even if this information is not the best representation of the topic or idea.

• This type of bias bias refers to the preference to keep things in their current state, while regarding any type of change as a loss.

What is pessimism bias?

• This bias refers to how we as humans are more likely to estimate a negative outcome if we are in a bad mood.

• This bias refers to how we as humans are more likely to estimate a positive outcome if we are in a good mood.

• This bias refers to the preference to keep things in their current state, while regarding any type of change as a loss.

• This type of bias is when people perceive events to be more predictable after they happen

What is straw man?

• This is a conclusion that oversimplifies the argument by reducing it to only two sides or choices.

• This is a diversionary tactic that avoids the key issues, often by avoiding opposing arguments rather than addressing them.

• This fallacy compares minor misdeeds with major atrocities, suggesting that both are equally immoral.

• This move oversimplifies an opponent's viewpoint and then attacks that hollow argument.