Final answer:
The cognitive bias that uses one attribute to form a general impression is the halo effect. This effect reflects our tendency to allow initial impressions, often based on superficial traits, to color our judgment of someone's character. Identifying these biases is crucial for better understanding and accuracy in perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that uses one attribute to develop an overall impression of a person or situation is c) a halo effect. The halo effect is a cognitive bias in which our overall impression of a person influences how we feel and think about their character. For example, we might judge someone's moral character based on their outward friendliness or assume that physically attractive individuals have positive personality traits.
Other types of cognitive biases related to how we interpret and perceive information include confirmation bias, which is when we focus on information that supports our pre-existing beliefs, and anchoring bias, which involves becoming fixated on a single trait of a problem. Understanding these biases can help us become more aware of how our perceptions are shaped and prevent us from making unfounded judgments based on limited information.