Final answer:
Americans in Beijing may choose McDonald's due to the availability heuristic, with McDonald's being a prominent and easily recognizable option, and the familiarity heuristic, as they choose a well-known food brand over unfamiliar local options. These heuristics are influenced by the global impact of America's soft power and cultural dominance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two judgment heuristics that might cause Americans in Beijing to choose to order McNuggets or a Big Mac are the availability heuristic and the familiarity heuristic. The availability heuristic suggests that people make decisions based on the information that is most readily available to them, such as the universal presence of McDonald's. The familiarity heuristic leads individuals to prefer the known over the unknown, opting for familiar foods rather than experimenting with local cuisine which they may perceive as riskier.
McDonald's success in foreign countries, including locations like New Delhi and Moscow, can be attributed to America's soft power, which includes the global influence of American culture through media and popular culture. The concept of the American Dream and its associated symbols of freedom and affluence, including fast-food chains, resonate with people globally. Despite concerns about the westernization and homogenization of global cultures, the prevalence of American fast-food establishments speaks to these psychological effects on consumer behavior.