All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is functional fixedness in problem solving?
Answer: Inability to see alternative uses for an object. Fixating on typical functions prevents creative problem-solving.
Flashcard 2: Identify the bias: Persisting with a failing plan because time and money were already spent.
Answer: Sunk cost fallacy. Irrecoverable past investments wrongly justify continued commitment.
Flashcard 3: What is insight in problem solving, and how does it typically feel subjectively?
Answer: Sudden realization of a solution; an “aha” experience. Often occurs after incubation when conscious effort stops.
Flashcard 4: What is functional fixedness in problem solving?
Answer: Inability to see an object being used for a new function. Limits creative problem-solving by restricting perceived uses.
Flashcard 5: What is the sunk cost fallacy in decision-making?
Answer: Continuing due to past investment rather than future benefit. Irrational because past costs cannot be recovered.
Flashcard 6: What is confirmation bias when evaluating evidence for a belief or hypothesis?
Answer: Seeking or interpreting evidence that supports existing beliefs. Leads to ignoring disconfirming evidence systematically.
Flashcard 7: What is prospect theory’s core claim about losses versus gains of equal magnitude?
Answer: Losses are weighted more heavily than equivalent gains. Psychological pain of loss exceeds pleasure of equal gain.
Flashcard 8: What is belief perseverance after disconfirming evidence is presented?
Answer: Maintaining a belief despite evidence that contradicts it. Cognitive dissonance drives resistance to changing views.
Flashcard 9: What is overconfidence bias in judgments about one’s own accuracy or ability?
Answer: Overestimating the correctness of one’s beliefs or predictions. Metacognitive failure in assessing one's own knowledge limits.
Flashcard 10: What is the representativeness heuristic in decision-making?
Answer: Judging probability by similarity to a prototype or stereotype. Ignores base rates in favor of stereotypical features.
Flashcard 11: What is a heuristic in problem solving, and what is its main trade-off versus an algorithm?
Answer: A mental shortcut; faster but more error-prone than algorithms. Trades accuracy for speed in reaching solutions.
Flashcard 12: What is the framing effect, and what aspect of presentation drives it?
Answer: Choices change with wording; driven by gain vs loss framing. Risk-seeking for losses, risk-averse for gains.
Flashcard 13: What is the gambler’s fallacy when judging random sequences?
Answer: Belief that past random events make opposite outcomes more likely. Misunderstands independence of random events.
Flashcard 14: Identify the bias: “This plane crash seems common because I saw it on the news all week.”
Answer: Availability heuristic. Media coverage makes rare events seem more probable.
Flashcard 15: Identify the bias: “She is quiet, so she is more likely a librarian than a salesperson.”
Answer: Representativeness heuristic. Stereotypes override statistical base rates.
Flashcard 16: Identify the bias: “I already spent $200, so I must keep going even if it will not help.”
Answer: Sunk cost fallacy. Past investment wrongly justifies future spending.
Flashcard 17: Identify the bias: “I read only articles supporting my view and ignore opposing evidence.”
Answer: Confirmation bias. Selective attention maintains existing beliefs.
Flashcard 18: What is mental set in problem solving?
Answer: Tendency to use previously successful strategies even when inappropriate. Past success creates cognitive rigidity in new situations.
Flashcard 19: What is anchoring bias in judgment and decision-making?
Answer: Overreliance on an initial value when making estimates. First information disproportionately influences subsequent judgments.
Flashcard 20: What is the availability heuristic in decision-making?
Answer: Judging likelihood by how easily examples come to mind. Recent or vivid memories bias probability estimates.
Flashcard 21: What is functional fixedness?
Answer: Failure to see an object’s possible uses beyond its typical function. Limits creative problem-solving by constraining perceived options.
Flashcard 22: What is loss aversion in prospect theory?
Answer: Losses are weighted more strongly than equivalent gains. Psychological pain of losing exceeds pleasure of gaining.
Flashcard 23: What is the difference between an algorithm and a heuristic in problem solving?
Answer: Algorithm: guaranteed method; heuristic: quick shortcut, not guaranteed. Algorithms follow systematic steps; heuristics use mental shortcuts.
Flashcard 24: What is the definition of a mental set in problem solving?
Answer: Tendency to use a familiar strategy even when it is not optimal. Past successful approaches can create cognitive rigidity.
Flashcard 25: Identify the bias: Concluding a quiet person is a librarian despite low librarian prevalence.
Answer: Representativeness heuristic (base rate neglect). Stereotypical match ignores statistical base rates.
Flashcard 26: Identify the bias: Continuing a failing project because time and money were already spent.
Answer: Sunk cost fallacy. Past investments wrongly justify continued commitment.
Flashcard 27: What is the gambler’s fallacy?
Answer: Belief that past random outcomes change future independent probabilities. Misunderstanding independence in random sequences.
Flashcard 28: What is the definition of the availability heuristic in decision-making?
Answer: Judging likelihood by how easily examples come to mind. Recent or vivid memories bias probability estimates.
Flashcard 29: What is the definition of the representativeness heuristic?
Answer: Judging probability by similarity to a prototype, ignoring base rates. Stereotypical features override statistical probabilities.
Flashcard 30: What is base rate neglect?
Answer: Ignoring population prevalence when estimating probability. Specific case details overshadow general frequency data.