Question

Which scenario is best illustrates the concept of illusory correlation?

A. A person claims that cigarettes do not cause health problems because some smokers live long and healthy lives.
B. A person believes cell phones cause cancer despite scientific studies finding no correlation between them.
C. A person argues that a scientific study is invalid because it bases its conclusions around very weak correlations.
D. A person suggests that her religious beliefs must be correct because many convicted criminals hold opposing beliefs.

Answer 1

B. A person believes cell phones cause cancer despite scientific studies finding no correlation between them.

Answer 2

B. A person believes cell phones cause cancer despite scientific studies finding no correlation between them.

Step-by-step explanation:

Illusory correlation: It refers to the phenomenon of discerning a relationship between different variables, instead of having no relationship between these variables in reality. Variables can be anything such as events, behaviors, people, etc.

Example: An individual believes that a person who lives in a rural area tends to less intellectual as compared to the one who lives in the urban area. So, whenever he meets a less intelligent person, he believes that the person must be from the rural area.