When we overgeneralize,we
A) treat irrelevant information as if it were relevant.
B) treat small amounts of information as if they were highly representative.
C) prefer simple explanations to complex explanations.
D) rely on pre-existing ideas about causes and effects.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Overgeneralizing involves taking a small amount of information and assuming it applies to a much larger group or situation. This is essentially treating a small amount of information as highly representative. Other choices, such as treating irrelevant information as if it were relevant or relying on pre-existing ideas, are also common cognitive biases but are not specifically related to overgeneralization. Preference for simple explanations could potentially lead to overgeneralization, but it is not a defining characteristic.

When We Overgeneralize,we