Final answer:
The belief that an individual cannot be both reliable and unreliable, or scatter-brained and organized, is an example of d)dichotomous thinking.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief that an individual cannot be both reliable and unreliable, or scatter-brained and organized, is an example of option d)dichotomous thinking.
This type of thinking involves viewing aspects of the world in a black or white manner, where things are considered to be one way or another with no middle ground. It's different from cognitive dissonance, which is the psychological discomfort arising from inconsistent beliefs and behaviors. Unlike stereotyping or confirmation bias, both of which are also mentioned as options in the question, dichotomous thinking does not involve seeking out information to support existing beliefs or making decisions based on false stereotypes. Instead, it is the tendency to see and categorize things, including people's traits, in extremes.