Suppose that Sergej has just asked Georgia whether she would like to study with him for an upcoming English exam. Georgia is struggling in the class, and she knows that Sergej is an excellent English student. She therefore enthusiastically agrees and says that she is excited to study with him. According to error management theory, it is likely that Sergej will view Georgia's enthusiasm as a sign that ____.
A)she has a crush on him
B)she values his intelligence
C)she is using him to score well on the exam
D)she is probably being insincere

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Error management theory suggests that people tend to make biased judgments to avoid more costly errors. In this context, Sergej might interpret Georgia's enthusiasm as a sign of personal interest (a crush) because overinterpreting signs of interest can be less costly than missing a potential romantic opportunity.

Suppose That Sergej Has Just Asked Georgia Whether She Would