Question

The tendency to presume, sometimes despite contrary odds, that someone or something belongs to a particular group if resembling a typical member is referred to as the _____ heuristic.

a) Availability
b) Representativeness
c) Anchoring and adjustment
d) Hindsight

Answer 1

The tendency to presume, sometimes despite contrary odds, that someone or something belongs to a particular group if resembling a typical member is referred to as the b) Representativeness heuristic.

Explanation:

The tendency to presume, sometimes despite contrary odds, that someone or something belongs to a particular group if resembling a typical member is referred to as the Representativeness heuristic. This cognitive shortcut leads individuals to make judgments based on how well an object or individual matches a prototype or stereotype of a particular category. It often occurs when people rely on stereotypes or generalizations instead of considering more specific information about the particular case.

The Representativeness heuristic is a mental shortcut identified in behavioral economics and cognitive psychology. It involves making decisions based on how closely an individual or object matches a prototype or representative image associated with a certain category. This can lead to biases and errors in judgment when the resemblance to the prototype is given more weight than other relevant information. For instance, if someone sees a person wearing a white coat and carrying a stethoscope, they may quickly assume that person is a doctor, even if there's no other evidence to support that conclusion.

Understanding and recognizing the influence of the Representativeness heuristic is crucial for making informed and unbiased decisions. It highlights the importance of considering a broader range of information and avoiding overreliance on stereotypes or superficial resemblances when forming judgments or making predictions. Option b

Answer 2

The presumptive association of an individual with a group based on perceived typical characteristics is known as the representativeness heuristic. It is a form of cognitive bias where stereotypical traits influence our judgments more than actual statistical probabilities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The tendency to presume, sometimes despite contrary odds, that someone or something belongs to a particular group if resembling a typical member is referred to as the representativeness heuristic. This type of cognitive bias involves unintentional stereotyping of someone or something, and it's based on the assumption that the characteristics of an individual will reflect the typical characteristics of the group they are perceived to belong to. For example, you might assume someone is a librarian because they are quiet and wear glasses, even though these traits do not necessarily indicate that profession.

Another bias is the availability heuristic, which reflects our tendency to use information that comes to mind quickly and easily when making decisions about the probability of events. This can lead to misjudgments because the vividness or recency of memories can disproportionately influence our perception of how common or likely certain events are.

Meanwhile, anchoring bias is our tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information we receive (the "anchor"), while making subsequent judgments or decisions. When estimating values, prices, or quantities, we might give disproportionate weight to the initial information presented to us.

Moreover, confirmation bias refers to the tendency to focus on information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs and overlook information that contradicts them. This can affect our ability to evaluate situations and make objective decisions.