Question 1

Kyle is buying a new mattress for his bed.Instead of spending hours or days finding the perfect mattress,Kyle buys the first mattress that is in his price range,and feels "comfortable enough." Kyle's behaviour is typical of a(n)_______________.
A)maximizer
B)heuristic thinker
C)algorithmic thinker
D)satisficer

Accepted Answer

Kyle's behavior matches with the definition of "satisficer," which means a decision-maker who settles for a choice that meets a minimum threshold of acceptability instead of exploring all possible options.

Question 2

Maximizers are individuals who
A)make judgments of likelihood based on how well an example represents a specific category.
B)seek to make decisions that are "good enough."
C)attempt to evaluate every option for every choice until they find the perfect fit.
D)try to use their time as efficiently as possible.

Accepted Answer

Maximizers are individuals who attempt to evaluate every option for every choice until they find the perfect fit. They strive for the best possible outcome and often experience regret if they later find out there was a better option available.

Question 3

Because of the availability heuristic,Jayne and her husband are most likely to exaggerate the risk to their children of ____________.
A)depression
B)delinquency
C)being kidnapped
D)asthma

Accepted Answer

The availability heuristic refers to the tendency to rely on readily available information in making decisions or judgments. In the case of Jayne and her husband, they are more likely to overestimate the risk of their children being kidnapped because of the extensive media coverage this issue receives. Despite the fact that the actual likelihood of a child being kidnapped is relatively low, events that receive a lot of media attention tend to be salient and memorable, and therefore, more likely to be used in making judgments and decisions.

Question 4

A real-estate agent is asked by her clients how much they should ask for their house.She just sold a house for $300 000,so she finds herself suggesting an amount within the same range.This is an example of _____________.
A)belief perseverance
B)confirmation bias
C)the representativeness heuristic
D)the anchoring effect

Accepted Answer

This scenario demonstrates the anchoring effect, which occurs when an individual relies too heavily on the first piece of information (the anchor) offered when making a decision. In this case, the real-estate agent is using the previous sale price of $300,000 as her anchor, and suggesting a price within the same range as a result.

Question 5

Which of the following best matches the view of your textbook's authors on the use of heuristic thinking?
A)Heuristic thinking leads to cognitive biases and should be avoided.
B)Heuristic thinking is superior to algorithmic thinking.
C)Using heuristics helps to minimize the risk of cognitive biases.
D)Heuristics help us make efficient decisions and can be beneficial;however they can also lead to errors.

Accepted Answer

The authors of the textbook view heuristic thinking as beneficial for making efficient decisions. However, they also note that heuristic thinking can lead to errors and should be used with caution.

Question 6

________________ is the search for evidence that only supports a preexisting belief,whereas ______________ involves accepting preexisting evidence only if it confirms a belief.
A)Confirmation bias;belief perseverance
B)Belief perseverance;confirmation bias
C)The availability heuristic;the representativeness heuristic
D)The representativeness heuristic;the availability heuristic

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias is when someone actively seeks out and focuses on evidence that supports their preexisting belief, while disregarding or downplaying evidence that contradicts it. Belief perseverance is when someone continues to hold onto a belief even when presented with evidence that disproves it, often due to cognitive dissonance or a desire to maintain consistency in their beliefs.

Question 7

Why is the relationship between satisficer/maximizer decision-making strategies and satisfaction surprising?
A)Maximizers take more time to make the best possible choice and tend to be happier with the outcome than are satisficers.
B)Satisficers take more time to make the best possible choice and tend to be happier with the outcome than are maximizers.
C)Maximizers take more time to make the best possible choice and tend to be less happy with the outcome than are satisficers.
D)Satisficers take more time to make the best possible choice and tend to be less happy with the outcome than are maximizers.

Accepted Answer

The relationship between satisficer/maximizer decision-making strategies and satisfaction is surprising because maximizers take more time to make the best possible choice and yet they tend to be less happy with the outcome than satisficers who take less time to make a decision. This goes against the common belief that taking more time to make a decision leads to better outcomes and greater satisfaction.

Question 8

Nate thinks that Consevatives and the NDP almost never work together in Congress.The reason he believes this is that he finds it much easier to think of examples of politicians from the two parties not working together than to think of examples them working together.It is likely that the ______________ has caused Nate to underestimate how frequently Conservatives and the NDP work together.
A)availability heuristic
B)confirmation bias
C)representativeness heuristic
D)anchoring effect

Accepted Answer

Nate's tendency to rely on examples that are readily available (i.e. instances where Conservatives and the NDP have not worked together) is indicative of the availability heuristic. This cognitive bias can cause individuals to overestimate the frequency of events that are more easily recalled or remembered, and thereby underestimate the occurrence of events that are less memorable. Thus, Nate's belief that the two parties almost never work together may be a result of the availability heuristic.

Question 9

When reading information that challenges one's beliefs,one tends to minimize the strengths of such claims.__________ accounts for this barrier to reasoning rationally.
A)Belief perseverance
B)The availability heuristic
C)The unfairness bias
D)The representativeness heuristic

Accepted Answer

Belief perseverance is the tendency to hold onto one's beliefs even in the face of contradictory evidence. When presented with new information that challenges their beliefs, people may minimize the strengths of those claims in order to maintain their current beliefs. The other options, such as the availability heuristic, unfairness bias, and representativeness heuristic, do not directly explain why people would minimize the strengths of opposing claims.

Question 10

What term do psychologists use to describe our tendency to search for evidence that supports our belief and to ignore evidence that might disprove it?
A)confirmation bias
B)convergent thinking
C)availability heuristic
D)representativeness heuristic

Accepted Answer

Psychologists use the term confirmation bias to describe the tendency to search for and interpret information in a way that supports our preexisting beliefs or opinions, while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts them. This bias can often lead to flawed reasoning, inaccurate judgments, and misguided decision-making.

Question 11

When using the availability heuristic,people tend to judge the probability of an event based on
A)the need to be right,which makes it hard to listen to the available information with an open mind.
B)statistical consideration of the frequency with which the event occurs in everyday life.
C)the burden of doubt people feel about their abilities to determine probability from available information.
D)how easy it is to think of examples or instances.

Accepted Answer

The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut where people judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples or instances come to mind. So, the correct answer is D, as it perfectly describes the basis of using the availability heuristic. Option A discusses a different psychological phenomenon known as confirmation bias, where people tend to look for evidence that confirms their beliefs rather than objectively considering all available information. Option B is related to the frequency heuristic, not availability heuristic. Option C is not related to the availability heuristic either.

Question 12

Satisficers are individuals who
A)make judgments of likelihood based on how well an example represents a specific category.
B)seek to make decisions that are "good enough."
C)attempt to evaluate every option for every choice until they find the perfect fit.
D)try to satisfy the expectations of others.

Accepted Answer

Satisficers are individuals who seek to make decisions that are "good enough." They do not try to evaluate every option for every choice until they find the perfect fit, as they prioritize finding a satisfactory option instead of the best possible option.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of the a framing effect?
A)a soldier running into gunfire to save a wounded friend
B)a child not wanting to be separated from his parents
C)an employee being much more upset about a $100 per month pay cut,then he would be excited about a $100 per month raise
D)a women becoming upset because she cannot find her keys

Accepted Answer

The framing effect refers to the way in which information is presented or "framed" in order to influence an individual's decision-making or judgment. This can be seen in the example given in option C, where an employee is more upset about a pay cut than they would be excited about a raise of the same amount. This is because the framing of the information (a loss versus gain) influences their emotional response and subsequent decision-making.

Question 14

A(n)____________ is a number an individual uses when attempting to solve a problem using numbers,to keep his or her response within a limited range.
A)anchor
B)initial state
C)representativeness value
D)operator

Accepted Answer

An anchor is a number an individual uses when attempting to solve a problem using numbers, to keep his or her response within a limited range. The individual starts with a particular number that serves as an anchor and then adjusts from that starting point to arrive at a final answer.

Question 15

When people attempt to solve a problem involving numbers,they may find themselves using another number called ____________ to keep their response within a limited range.
A)an anchor
B)an initial state
C)a representativeness value
D)an operator

Accepted Answer

An anchor is a number used as a reference point to keep responses within a limited range when solving a problem involving numbers. It serves as a starting point or a benchmark for making comparisons and calculations.

Question 16

Research indicates that ______________ are typically happier with their decision than _______________ are.
A)maximizers;satisficers
B)satisficers;maximizers
C)heuristic thinkers;algorithmic thinkers
D)algorithmic thinkers;heuristic thinkers

Accepted Answer

Research shows that satisficers, who make decisions when they find an option that is satisfactory, tend to be happier with their decision than maximizers, who exhaustively search for the best possible option. Maximizers often experience regret and doubt about their decision, whereas satisficers are content with a choice that meets their criteria. The other answer choices are unrelated to decision-making and happiness.

Question 17

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.

Accepted Answer

Agatha is exhibiting confirmation bias by only seeking out information that confirms her existing belief and ignoring any opposing evidence that may exist.

Question 18

Jenny is deciding on which invitations to use for her wedding.If Jenny is a maximizer,she is most likely to
A)choose the least expensive invitation design.
B)choose the most expensive invitation design.
C)choose the first invitation design that she likes.
D)spend a long time looking at different invitation designs until she finds the exact one she is looking for.

Accepted Answer

If Jenny is a maximizer, she will want to explore all possible options and spend a long time looking at different invitation designs until she finds the best one that meets her expectations. Maximizers tend to exhaust all possibilities before making a decision in order to ensure they have made the best choice available. Therefore, choice D is the most likely option for Jenny if she is a maximizer.

Question 19

What is the phenomenon known as the paradox of choice?
A)The greater the number of options to choose from,the faster individuals typically make their decision.
B)The more options individuals have to choose from,the less satisfied they tend to be with their final decision.
C)There is no relationship between the number options to choose from and satisfaction with the final choice.
D)Individuals prefer to have all of their choices made for them.

Accepted Answer

The paradox of choice is the phenomenon where individuals are presented with a large number of options, which can lead to feelings of overwhelm and decision paralysis. When faced with too many options, individuals may have difficulty committing to a final decision and may experience regret or dissatisfaction with their choice. Therefore, the more options individuals have to choose from, the less satisfied they tend to be with their final decision.

Question 20

The concept of belief perseverance assumes that we are most likely to believe
A)the scientific method as true.
B)information that agrees with our thinking.
C)information that refutes our thinking.
D)logical thinking.

Accepted Answer

The concept of belief perseverance suggests that we tend to maintain our existing beliefs even in the face of contradictory evidence, and we are more likely to accept information that is consistent with our beliefs. Therefore, we are most likely to believe information that agrees with our thinking.

Quiz 8: B: Thought and Language

Kyle is buying a new mattress for his bed.Instead of spending hours or days finding the perfect mattress,Kyle buys the first mattress that is in his price range,and feels "comfortable enough." Kyle's behaviour is typical of a(n) _______________.

Maximizers are individuals who

Because of the availability heuristic,Jayne and her husband are most likely to exaggerate the risk to their children of ____________.

A real-estate agent is asked by her clients how much they should ask for their house.She just sold a house for $300 000,so she finds herself suggesting an amount within the same range.This is an example of _____________.

Which of the following best matches the view of your textbook's authors on the use of heuristic thinking?

__ is the search for evidence that only supports a preexisting belief,whereas involves accepting preexisting evidence only if it confirms a belief.

Why is the relationship between satisficer/maximizer decision-making strategies and satisfaction surprising?

When reading information that challenges one's beliefs,one tends to minimize the strengths of such claims.__________ accounts for this barrier to reasoning rationally.

What term do psychologists use to describe our tendency to search for evidence that supports our belief and to ignore evidence that might disprove it?

When using the availability heuristic,people tend to judge the probability of an event based on

Satisficers are individuals who

Which of the following is an example of the a framing effect?

A(n) ____________ is a number an individual uses when attempting to solve a problem using numbers,to keep his or her response within a limited range.

When people attempt to solve a problem involving numbers,they may find themselves using another number called ____________ to keep their response within a limited range.

Research indicates that are typically happier with their decision than _ are.

Jenny is deciding on which invitations to use for her wedding.If Jenny is a maximizer,she is most likely to

What is the phenomenon known as the paradox of choice?

The concept of belief perseverance assumes that we are most likely to believe