A single,memorable case of welfare fraud can have a greater impact on people's estimates of welfare abuse than do statistics showing that this case is actually the exception to the rule.This illustrates that judgments are influenced by
A) confirmation bias.
B) overconfidence.
C) belief perseverance.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question is an example of the availability heuristic, which refers to our tendency to overestimate the frequency or likelihood of an event based on how easily it comes to mind. In this case, the memorable case of welfare fraud is more vivid and salient than statistics showing that it is rare, leading people to overestimate the prevalence of welfare abuse. Confirmation bias refers to our tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs, and belief perseverance is the tendency to cling to our beliefs even in the face of contradictory evidence. Overconfidence refers to our tendency to overestimate our own abilities or judgment. While these cognitive biases may also influence people's judgments in various situations, they are not the most relevant to the scenario described.

A Single,memorable Case of Welfare Fraud Can Have a Greater