Cognitive Biases

Emma receives both praise and criticism at work. She finds herself thinking more about the criticism than the praise. This is an example of:

• The tendency to focus more on negative experiences than positive ones.

• The tendency to ignore negative experiences.

• The preference for positive feedback over negative feedback.

• The inability to remember negative events.

Kai sees someone collapse on a busy street, but since there are many people around, he assumes someone else will help and does nothing. This situation is an example of:

• A phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help a victim when other people are present.

• A situation where people always help others in need regardless of the presence of others.

• A psychological effect that makes people more aggressive in groups.

• A tendency for people to remember events more clearly when witnessed by others.

James, who just started learning to play chess, believes he can easily beat experienced players despite having little practice. This is an example of:

• A cognitive bias where people with low ability overestimate their competence.

• A phenomenon where experts underestimate their knowledge.

• A psychological effect where people remember negative events more vividly.

• A tendency to conform to group opinions regardless of personal beliefs.

During a team meeting at work, Scarlett and her colleagues all agree with the manager's idea without voicing any concerns, even though some of them have doubts. This is an example of:

• A psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony in a group leads to poor decision-making.

• A method of brainstorming used to generate creative ideas in a group.

• A leadership style that encourages individual opinions and dissent.

• A process of dividing tasks among group members for efficiency.

After winning a tennis match, Michael says it was because of his hard work and skill. But when he loses, he blames the weather and bad luck. This is an example of:

• The tendency to attribute successes to oneself and failures to external factors.

• The tendency to attribute all outcomes to luck.

• The belief that others are always responsible for one’s failures.

• The tendency to ignore one’s own achievements.

Charlotte reads an article claiming that modern society is experiencing a steady decline in values and quality of life. She starts to believe that things are getting worse over time. What is this belief called?

• the belief that a society or institution is in decline

• the process of economic growth

• a theory about technological advancement

• a movement for social equality

Aria believes that eating junk food is unhealthy, but she often finds herself eating chips and candy. Which of the following best describes what Aria is experiencing?

• The discomfort experienced when holding two or more conflicting beliefs or values.

• The tendency to remember only positive experiences.

• The process of learning through observation.

• The ability to solve problems using logic alone.

When Mason meets his new coworker, he notices that she is very friendly and well-dressed. Because of this positive first impression, Mason assumes she is also hardworking and intelligent, even though he doesn't know much about her work yet. This is an example of:

• A cognitive bias where our overall impression of a person influences how we feel and think about their character.

• A phenomenon where people remember only negative traits of others.

• A psychological effect where people are immune to first impressions.

• A marketing strategy used to promote products.

Arjun is shopping for a new laptop. The first model he sees is priced at $1,500. Even after looking at other models, he keeps comparing them to the $1,500 price. What cognitive bias is Arjun experiencing?

• A cognitive bias where individuals rely too heavily on the first piece of information encountered.

• A method of tying ships to a dock.

• A process of planting trees in a garden.

• A technique for cooking meat over an open flame.

Sophia believes that a certain diet is the best way to stay healthy. When reading articles online, she only pays attention to those that support her belief and ignores any that suggest otherwise. This behavior is an example of:

• The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms one’s preconceptions.

• The ability to objectively evaluate all evidence, regardless of personal beliefs.

• The process of deliberately seeking out opposing viewpoints.

• The tendency to forget information that supports one’s beliefs.