Cognitive Psychology

What is cognitive psychology?

• Cognitive psychology is influenced by unconscious desires and focuses primarily on dream analysis and emotional conflicts.

• Cognitive psychology is influenced by the way people process information and how that dictates their behaviour and emotions.

• Cognitive psychology examines how environmental stimuli directly trigger physical reflexes without involving thought processes.

• Cognitive psychology is based on the study of genetic factors and how they shape instinctual behaviors.

Answer explanation

Cognitive psychology focuses on how people process information, influencing their behavior and emotions. This distinguishes it from other psychological approaches that emphasize unconscious desires or reflexive responses.

Why did cognitive psychologists believed that computers worked in a similar way to the human mind?

• Psychologists reasoned that in the same way that a computer accepts data, codes it for storage and retrieves it, the human mind takes in information, changes it to make sense of it, stores it and records it when needed.

• Psychologists believed that computers could potentially experience a range of emotions, thereby enabling them to make decisions that are influenced by feelings, much like the way the human mind operates in making emotionally-driven choices.

• Psychologists thought that computers would eventually rely not just on logic and data but also on instinct and intuition, functioning similarly to human decision-making processes that often incorporate subconscious feelings and gut reactions.

• Psychologists reasoned that computers, like the human mind, could alter their physical structure and internal configurations based on received information, adapting similarly to how the brain processes new experiences and learns.

Answer explanation

Psychologists believed that both computers and the human mind process information similarly: they accept data, encode it for storage, and retrieve it when needed, highlighting a parallel in how both systems handle information.

What is cognitive bias?

• Cognitive bias is when the mind makes an error in the course of thought processing which results in a skewed judgment or reaction.

• Cognitive bias is when the mind consistently processes information with complete accuracy and logical reasoning.

• Cognitive bias is when emotions are completely separated from decision-making, leading to purely rational judgments.

• Cognitive bias is when thought processes are slowed down to avoid any mistakes, ensuring perfect judgment.

Answer explanation

Cognitive bias refers to errors in thought processing that lead to skewed judgments or reactions, making the first answer choice correct. The other options incorrectly describe cognitive bias as accurate or purely rational thinking.

What causes cognitive bias?

• Cognitive bias is caused by the brain having unlimited time and resources to analyze every detail before making a decision.

• Cognitive bias is caused by a complete absence of external stress or pressure, leading to fully objective thinking.

• Cognitive bias is caused by the brain's refusal to make any mental shortcuts, always favoring in-depth analysis.

• Cognitive bias is caused by the brain, by making a mental shortcut under pressure.

Answer explanation

Cognitive bias occurs when the brain makes mental shortcuts under pressure, leading to quick but often flawed decisions. This contrasts with the other options, which suggest unlimited resources or absence of stress.

What is the anchoring bias?

• Overriding own beliefs in order to go along with what other people are thinking or doing

• Abandoning original assumptions in favour of a new piece of information

• Placing too much importance on the first piece of information heard.

• Mistakenly believing that if something is happening more often now, it will happen less often in the future

Answer explanation

The anchoring bias occurs when individuals place too much importance on the first piece of information they encounter, which can skew their judgment and decision-making.

What is the base-rate fallacy bias?

• Making choices to keep a situation the same or alter it as little as possible rather than risk change.

• Abandoning original assumptions in favour of a new piece of information.

• Choosing a smaller reward now, rather than patiently waiting for a larger reward.

• Disregarding true probability.

Answer explanation

The base-rate fallacy bias involves disregarding true probability, often leading to poor decision-making. The correct choice highlights the tendency to abandon original assumptions in favor of new information, which can mislead judgment.

What is the bandwagon effect bias?

• Placing too much importance on the first piece of information heard.

• Abandoning original assumptions in favour of a new piece of information.

• Mistakenly believing that if something is happening more often now, it will happen less often in the future

• Overriding own beliefs in order to go along with what other people are thinking or doing.

Answer explanation

The bandwagon effect bias occurs when individuals override their own beliefs to align with the opinions or behaviors of others, often leading to conformity and groupthink.

What is the gambler's fallacy bias?

• Making choices to keep a situation the same or alter it as little as possible rather than risk change.

• Disregarding true probability

• Mistakenly believing that if something is happening more often now, it will happen less often in the future

• Choosing a smaller reward now, rather than patiently waiting for a larger reward.

Answer explanation

The gambler's fallacy bias is the mistaken belief that if an event occurs more frequently in the present, it will occur less frequently in the future. This choice reflects a misunderstanding of independent probabilities.

What is hyperbolic discounting bias?

• Choosing a smaller reward now, rather than patiently waiting for a larger reward.

• Placing too much importance on the first piece of information heard.

• Abandoning original assumptions in favour of a new piece of information.

• Overriding own beliefs in order to go along with what other people are thinking or doing.

Answer explanation

Hyperbolic discounting bias refers to the tendency to prefer smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones. This explains why people often choose a smaller reward now, rather than patiently waiting for a larger reward.

What is the neglect of probability bias?

• Making choices to keep a situation the same or alter it as little as possible rather than risk change.

• Mistakenly believing that if something is happening more often now, it will happen less often in the future

• Abandoning original assumptions in favour of a new piece of information.

• Disregarding true probability.

Answer explanation

The neglect of probability bias refers to disregarding true probability, leading individuals to make decisions based on flawed perceptions rather than actual statistical likelihoods.