Question 1

Regarding how emotions and choice affect one's decision-making, which of the following statements is FALSE?
A)Even mild emotions, such as low-level stress, can subtly influence how we think and act.
B)The freedom of having a wide variety of choices tends to produce better decision-making.
C)Studies show that having more choices increase people's interest in making the choice.
D)Having too many options can produce cognitive overload.

Accepted Answer

The statement that the freedom of having a wide variety of choices tends to produce better decision-making is false. Research, including the concept of "choice overload," suggests that having too many options can actually make decision-making more difficult and can lead to lower satisfaction with the chosen option.

Question 2

According to Soman and other researchers, increased stress, cognitive overload, and confusion about the possibilities are some of the reasons that people
A)exhibit functional fixedness.
B)are able to think divergently.
C)choice overload.
D)resort to algorithmic thinking.

Accepted Answer

Increased stress, cognitive overload, and confusion about the possibilities can lead to choice overload, where individuals find it difficult to make a decision when faced with many options.

Question 3

Which of the following can channel us down a narrow path so we attend to only part of the information provided, rather than weighing all the pros and cons?
A)the framing of the question
B)focusing on the base rate
C)divergent thinking
D)looking for analogies

Accepted Answer

The framing of a question can influence how we perceive and interpret information, leading us to focus on specific aspects of the situation and potentially ignore other relevant information. This can channel our thinking down a narrow path, affecting our decision-making process by making us attend to only part of the information provided.

Question 4

Cindy's parents do not like Cindy's boyfriend Sean and forbid her to see him again. Cindy is angry and hurt, so she decides to elope with Sean that very night. Cindy's decision most likely occurred due to
A)an awareness of the base rate for marriages and divorces.
B)a broad framing of this relationship problem.
C)emotions.
D)all of these.

Accepted Answer

Cindy's decision to elope with Sean is most likely driven by her emotions, particularly her feelings of anger and hurt due to her parents' disapproval. Emotional responses can often lead to impulsive decisions, such as eloping, rather than decisions based on logical analysis or consideration of statistical information like marriage and divorce rates.

Question 5

Janie states that she likes to write, so she will become a journalist, while Matt wants to make a lot of money and decides that "being a lawyer pays well." Both Janie and Matt are making their career decisions by
A)framing the question of a career too narrowly.
B)framing the question of a career too broadly.
C)using a divergent, creative approach in selecting a career.
D)using a random search strategy in selecting a career.

Accepted Answer

Janie and Matt are both focusing on a single aspect of their desired careers (writing for journalism and high income for law, respectively) without considering the broader range of factors that should influence such a decision. This approach is too narrow because it overlooks other important aspects like job satisfaction, career growth, work-life balance, and the actual demands of the profession.

Question 6

The tendency to perceive a problem in a way that blinds us to possible solutions is called
A)a mental set.
B)divergent thought.
C)a prototype.
D)brainstorming.

Accepted Answer

A mental set is a cognitive pattern that represents our customary approach to solving problems, which can sometimes prevent us from seeing alternative solutions or approaches.

Question 7

You go to the new ice cream parlor that has 48 different flavors of ice cream and 20 different toppings. According to behavioral economist Dilip Soman, having all these choices
A)tends to facilitate one's decision-making.
B)tends to decrease one's decision-making ability.
C)prevents one from experiencing functional fixedness.
D)often leads to one using algorithmic thinking.

Accepted Answer

Having a large number of choices can overwhelm individuals, leading to decision fatigue and potentially decreasing their decision-making ability. This phenomenon is often discussed in the context of choice overload, where too many options can lead to difficulty in making decisions and sometimes result in not making a decision at all.

Question 8

In one study, a group of consumers were given an option to purchase jam with half of them choosing from six different flavors and the other half choosing from 24 flavors. The researchers found that the consumers with more choice expressed
A)more interest and were more likely to purchase a jam.
B)more interest, but were less likely to purchase any jam.
C)less interest, but were more likely to purchase a jam.
D)less interest and were less likely to purchase any jam.

Accepted Answer

The study found that while consumers with more choices (24 flavors) showed more interest, they were actually less likely to make a purchase compared to those with fewer options (6 flavors). This phenomenon is often related to the paradox of choice, where too many options can lead to decision paralysis.

Question 9

Restaurants whose menus feature a broader variety of choices often find that
A)their patrons will be more likely to try a different entree each time they come to the restaurant.
B)this change will guarantee significantly increased business.
C)this change will guarantee significantly decreased business.
D)their patrons will be more likely to order from a smaller number of familiar choices.

Accepted Answer

When presented with too many options, patrons may feel overwhelmed and tend to stick with familiar choices rather than trying new ones.

Question 10

A large drunken guy in a bar insults Josh's girlfriend. Josh is very angry, but he takes a few deep breaths and "counts to ten." These deep breaths and "counting to ten" will most likely
A)give the drunken guy an opportunity to apologize to Josh and his girlfriend.
B)cause Josh to react too slowly and give the drunken guy the opportunity to hit Josh.
C)calm Josh so that he will make a rational decision not to fight.
D)prevent Josh from crying and making "a fool out of himself" in front of his girlfriend.

Accepted Answer

Taking deep breaths and counting to ten are techniques used to calm oneself down in stressful situations, allowing for more rational decision-making rather than reacting impulsively or violently.

Question 11

Regarding a custody matter, two judges are each given profiles of the two parents. One judge is asked, "Which parent should be awarded custody?" while the other judge is asked, "Which parent should be denied custody?" The judges are most likely to see this custody situation differently because of the
A)underlying base rates.
B)framing of the questions.
C)representative heuristics within this situation.
D)differing emotionalities of the two judges.

Accepted Answer

The framing of the questions influences how the situation is perceived and decisions are made, highlighting the impact of how information is presented on judgment and decision-making processes.

Question 12

Framing decisions narrowly
A)greatly increases the risk of making a poor choice.
B)greatly increases your chances of making a good choice.
C)helps individuals think more critically and analytically.
D)prevents intuitive thinking.

Accepted Answer

Framing decisions narrowly can limit the consideration of alternative options and perspectives, increasing the risk of overlooking better choices or solutions, thus leading to a higher chance of making a poor decision.

Question 13

When making decisions, emotions, such as fear, hope, anxiety, liking, or disgust can
A)eliminate possibilities from consideration and promote possibilities to the top of the list.
B)help one to become aware of the base rate for the occurrence of a particular event.
C)help one to think more clearly and firmly about important decisions.
D)do all of these.

Accepted Answer

Emotions can significantly influence decision-making by eliminating certain options and prioritizing others based on how they make us feel, rather than purely on logical or rational grounds.

Question 14

Regarding how creativity can be encouraged, which of the following statements is FALSE?
A)Many studies of creativity show that "genius" and "eminence" owe as much to persistence and dedication as they do to inspiration.
B)Encouraging mental sets can lead you to see the world from a more creative perspective.
C)To encourage creativity, seek varied input by randomly looking up words in the dictionary and relating them to the problem.
D)If you are feeling hurried by a sense of time pressure, you are almost always less likely to think creatively.

Accepted Answer

Encouraging mental sets, which are habits or patterns of problem-solving, can actually hinder creativity by limiting the ability to see alternative solutions or novel approaches.

Question 15

When people are given reports to review regarding a custody decision, and then asked the question, "Which parent should be awarded custody?" most people tend to
A)focus on the base rate of custody.
B)ignore the base rate of custody.
C)look for positive qualities in the parents.
D)look for negative qualities in the parents.

Accepted Answer

Most people tend to look for positive qualities in the parents when deciding who should be awarded custody, as they are often influenced by the desire to ensure the child's well-being and future opportunities.

Question 16

In deciding on a career, Aria is thinking about the pay, working conditions, job satisfaction, needed skills, future employment outlook, and many other factors. Aria
A)is framing the question of a career in narrow, specific terms.
B)is framing the question of a career in the broadest way.
C)is using the process of "thin-slicing" to make her career decision.
D)should base her decision solely on the type of employment activity that she would most enjoy and not worry about the other aspects of the job.

Accepted Answer

Aria is considering a wide range of factors related to her career choice, indicating that she is thinking about her career in a comprehensive and broad manner, rather than focusing narrowly on one aspect or making a quick, superficial judgment.

Question 17

Which of the following ways of framing or stating a problem usually produces the best decision?
A)framing that is narrow and specific
B)framing that is broad
C)framing that is more convergent
D)framing that is simple and concise

Accepted Answer

Framing a problem in a broad manner allows for a comprehensive view of the situation, encouraging consideration of various perspectives and potential solutions. This approach helps in identifying the root causes and understanding the wider implications of the problem, leading to better decision-making.

Question 18

Many people vote for a candidate based more on whether they like the candidate or not, rather than voting for the candidate that is the most qualified for the job, which illustrates how one's judgment can be affected by
A)ignoring the base rate.
B)the unconscious mind.
C)emotion.
D)divergent thinking.

Accepted Answer

Voting for a candidate based on likability rather than qualifications illustrates how emotions can influence one's judgment, leading to decisions that prioritize personal feelings over objective criteria.

Question 19

When people are given reports to review regarding a custody decision, and then asked the question, "Which parent should be denied custody?" most people tend to
A)focus on the base rate of custody.
B)ignore the base rate of custody.
C)look for positive qualities in the parents.
D)look for negative qualities in the parents.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon occurs because when making decisions about custody, individuals are more likely to focus on negative qualities to identify which parent might be less suitable for custody, rather than focusing on positive qualities or statistical norms (base rates). This is due to the negativity bias, where negative information tends to influence judgments more strongly than positive information.

Question 20

In selecting a career, it is best to
A)frame this problem in narrow, specific terms related to your particular skills.
B)frame this problem in the broadest way and consider many factors, including future employment outlook, pay, and job satisfaction.
C)trust your intuition.
D)decide based solely on what employment activity you would most like to do.

Accepted Answer

Considering many factors such as future employment outlook, pay, and job satisfaction allows for a more comprehensive and realistic approach to career selection, ensuring that the decision is well-rounded and considers both personal fulfillment and practical aspects.

Quiz 8: Cognition, Language, and Creativity

Regarding how emotions and choice affect one's decision-making, which of the following statements is FALSE?

According to Soman and other researchers, increased stress, cognitive overload, and confusion about the possibilities are some of the reasons that people

Which of the following can channel us down a narrow path so we attend to only part of the information provided, rather than weighing all the pros and cons?

Cindy's parents do not like Cindy's boyfriend Sean and forbid her to see him again. Cindy is angry and hurt, so she decides to elope with Sean that very night. Cindy's decision most likely occurred due to

Janie states that she likes to write, so she will become a journalist, while Matt wants to make a lot of money and decides that "being a lawyer pays well." Both Janie and Matt are making their career decisions by

The tendency to perceive a problem in a way that blinds us to possible solutions is called

You go to the new ice cream parlor that has 48 different flavors of ice cream and 20 different toppings. According to behavioral economist Dilip Soman, having all these choices

In one study, a group of consumers were given an option to purchase jam with half of them choosing from six different flavors and the other half choosing from 24 flavors. The researchers found that the consumers with more choice expressed

Restaurants whose menus feature a broader variety of choices often find that

A large drunken guy in a bar insults Josh's girlfriend. Josh is very angry, but he takes a few deep breaths and "counts to ten." These deep breaths and "counting to ten" will most likely

Framing decisions narrowly

When making decisions, emotions, such as fear, hope, anxiety, liking, or disgust can

Regarding how creativity can be encouraged, which of the following statements is FALSE?

When people are given reports to review regarding a custody decision, and then asked the question, "Which parent should be awarded custody?" most people tend to

In deciding on a career, Aria is thinking about the pay, working conditions, job satisfaction, needed skills, future employment outlook, and many other factors. Aria

Which of the following ways of framing or stating a problem usually produces the best decision?

Many people vote for a candidate based more on whether they like the candidate or not, rather than voting for the candidate that is the most qualified for the job, which illustrates how one's judgment can be affected by

When people are given reports to review regarding a custody decision, and then asked the question, "Which parent should be denied custody?" most people tend to

In selecting a career, it is best to