Question 1

The cognitive rule that judges the likelihood of things in terms of their availability in memory is called the _____ heuristic.

Accepted Answer

A)  availability
B)  representativeness
C)  vividness
D)  matching A

Question 2

A belief that leads to its own fulfillment is called

Accepted Answer

A)  a self-fulfilling prophecy.
B)  a belief confirmation.
C)  self-confirming validity.
D)  behavioral perseverance. A

Question 3

What is illusory thinking and what are its effects?

Accepted Answer

Illusory thinking refers to the cognitive process of forming beliefs or making decisions based on false perceptions or misleading information. This type of thinking can lead to a distorted view of reality and can have various effects on an individual's behavior and well-being.

One of the effects of illusory thinking is the potential for making poor decisions. When individuals base their choices on false perceptions or misinformation, they may end up taking actions that are not in their best interest or that have negative consequences. This can impact their personal and professional lives, leading to missed opportunities or even harmful outcomes.

Illusory thinking can also contribute to the development of irrational fears or anxieties. When individuals believe in false perceptions or misleading information, they may become overly worried or stressed about situations that are not actually as threatening as they perceive them to be. This can lead to unnecessary distress and a reduced quality of life.

Furthermore, illusory thinking can hinder problem-solving and critical thinking skills. When individuals are unable to accurately perceive and understand the reality of a situation, they may struggle to effectively analyze and address challenges. This can impede their ability to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.

In conclusion, illusory thinking can have detrimental effects on individuals' decision-making, emotional well-being, and problem-solving abilities. It is important for individuals to critically evaluate their beliefs and perceptions in order to avoid the negative consequences of illusory thinking.

Question 4

The statistical tendency for extreme scores or behaviors to return toward average is called

Accepted Answer

A)  the regression heuristic.
B)  regression toward the extreme.
C)  regression toward the average.
D)  reversion.

Question 5

Researchers investigated the reduction of littering in three classrooms.Which class still showed a reduction in littering two weeks after the study ended?

Accepted Answer

A)  the class that was told that they should be neat and tidy
B)  the class reprimanded repeatedly for littering
C)  the class congratulated for being neat and tidy
D)  the class whose littering was ignored

Question 6

Assuming most crimes involve violence because the news generally reports on rapes,robberies and beatings is an example of the _______ heuristic.

Accepted Answer

A)  availability
B)  representativeness
C)  vividness
D)  matching

Question 7

You attend a party where you do not know anyone,but expect that people will be friendly.You behave in a warm and sociable manner.Your behavior,in turn,leads to other people being friendly to you.This situation can best be described as

Accepted Answer

A)  the illusory correlation.
B)  the representativeness heuristic.
C)  the availability heuristic.
D)  behavioral confirmation.

Question 8

Provide examples of the availability heuristic.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Provide examples of the availability heuristic....

Question 9

Expectations can often predict behavior because

Accepted Answer

A)  the expectations are accurate.
B)  the expectations are a coincidence.
C)  behavior is easily predicted.
D)  we are overconfident.

Question 10

Thinking that our premonitions correlate with events represents

Accepted Answer

A)  a representative heuristic.
B)  an availability heuristic.
C)  an illusory correlation.
D)  the overconfidence phenomenon.

Question 11

The perception of a relationship where none actually exists,or the perception of a stronger relationship than actually exists,is called

Accepted Answer

A)  a representative heuristic.
B)  an availability heuristic.
C)  an illusory correlation.
D)  the overconfidence phenomenon.

Question 12

When our expectations lead us to act in ways that induce others to confirm those expectations,_______ is at work.

Accepted Answer

A)  illusory correlation
B)  counterfactual thinking
C)  behavioral confirmation
D)  illusion of control

Question 13

,if you want young children to put trash in wastebaskets,you should repeatedly

Accepted Answer

A)  tell them that they should be neat and tidy.
B)  congratulate them for being neat and tidy.
C)  tell them that littering is a crime.
D)  tell them that people who litter are bad.

Question 14

According to your text,people everywhere perceive mediators and media as

Accepted Answer

A)  biased in favor of their position.
B)  objective in their decisions and coverage.
C)  biased against their position.
D)  biased against the President.

Question 15

found that among married couples,the self-fulfilling prophecy occurred when one person interpreted slight hurts as rejections.The person who felt rejected was then motivated to

Accepted Answer

A)  value their partner for his or her honesty.
B)  value their partner yet become distant from him or her.
C)  devalue their partner but make an effort to become close to him or her.
D)  devalue their partner and become distant from him or her.

Question 16

Research on gambling has found that throwing the dice or spinning the wheel increases people's confidence.This illustrates the

Accepted Answer

A)  illusory correlation.
B)  illusion of control.
C)  representative heuristic.
D)  availability heuristic.

Question 17

Although travelers in the United States are more likely to die in an automobile crash than on a commercial flight covering the same distance,people often assume that flying is more dangerous than driving.What type of heuristic are people using when they make this assumption?

Accepted Answer

A)  availability heuristic
B)  representativeness heuristic
C)  vividness heuristic
D)  matching heuristic

Question 18

Researchers had male students speak by telephone with women they thought were either attractive or unattractive.When judges later analyzed the women's comments,they found that the

Accepted Answer

A)  women thought to be attractive spoke more warmly than the other women.
B)  women thought to be unattractive tried harder to be likable and stimulated better conversation.
C)  women thought to be attractive spoke in a more aloof and superior manner.
D)  women thought to be unattractive spoke more slowly and deliberately.

Question 19

Although you once earned a 100 on your physics exam,you have subsequently been unable to earn a perfect score again.Your experience may be understood in terms of

Accepted Answer

A)  the illusory correlation.
B)  regression toward the average.
C)  the representativeness heuristic.
D)  counterfactual thinking.

Question 20

The "Kulechov effect" (named after a Russian film director)is another illustration of

Accepted Answer

A)  the principle of belief perseverance.
B)  confirmation bias.
C)  false memories.
D)  how our preconceptions determine our subsequent perceptions of emotion.

Exam 8: Reasons for Unreason