Question

You bought a top-of-the-line laptop because your friends were so enthusiastic about theirs. What kind of bias is in action here?

Option 1: Confirmation Bias
Option 2: Social Desirability Bias
Option 3: Anchoring Bias
Option 4: Bandwagon Effect

Answer 1

Buying a laptop because friends recommend it exemplifies the Bandwagon Effect, a cognitive bias where individuals follow the crowd's actions without independent judgement.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you bought a top-of-the-line laptop because your friends were so enthusiastic about theirs, you are likely exhibiting the Bandwagon Effect. This is a type of cognitive bias where people do something primarily because other people are doing it, regardless of their own beliefs, which might be different. The bandwagon effect is similar to the bandwagon fallacy, which is the idea that just because many people believe in something, it doesn't necessarily make it true. This type of thinking can make it challenging to evaluate information objectively, especially when it contradicts with the beliefs held by a group or "tribe" you associate with. Such behaviors are often leveraged by advertisers who try to persuade consumers that "everyone" is buying a product, thus encouraging more people to purchase it.