Bias in Thinking and Decision-Making SAQ

What is thinking and decision making?

A cognitive process used to analyze situations, solve problems, and make choices.

What is the Dual Process Model?

A theory by Tversky and Kahneman proposing that two systems—System 1 and System 2—govern thinking and decision making.

What is System 1 thinking?

Fast, automatic, intuitive, and unconscious thinking that uses little effort but is more prone to bias due to reliance on heuristics.

What is a heuristic?

A mental shortcut or rule of thumb that simplifies decision making but can lead to biases.

What is System 2 thinking?

Slower, more analytical and deliberate thinking that requires effort and attention—less prone to bias.

What is anchoring bias?

A cognitive bias where individuals rely too heavily on the first piece of information (the "anchor") when making decisions or estimates.

What was the aim of Strack & Mussweiler’s study?

To investigate how anchoring bias influences estimates—in this case, guesses about Gandhi's age at death.

Who were the participants?

German university students.

What was the procedure of the study?

• Two groups were given different anchor questions:

  • Group 1: Was Gandhi older or younger than 9 when he died?

  • Group 2: Was Gandhi older or younger than 120 when he died?

• Then all were asked to estimate Gandhi’s actual age at death.

What were the results of the study?

• High anchor group (120): Average estimate = 67 years

• Low anchor group (9): Average estimate = 50 years
  → Shows that the initial anchor significantly influenced final estimates.

What does this study reveal about human behavior?

People are influenced by initial information (the anchor), even when it is clearly unrealistic.

How does this relate to the Dual Process Model?

It shows that participants relied on System 1 (quick, intuitive thinking), using the anchor as a heuristic, instead of switching to System 2 to critically assess the information.

What does this suggest about thinking and decision-making in everyday life?

Biases like anchoring can distort judgment, especially when decisions are made quickly without critical evaluation.