AP Psychology Unit 2 Quiz 1: cognitive biases

insight

A sudden, novel realization of a problem's solution.

confirmation bias

The tendency to seek out and favor information that supports your pre-existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.

fixation

The inability to see a problem from a fresh perspective; being 'stuck' on one approach.

intuition

A "gut feeling" or immediate understanding without conscious reasoning, often based on experience.

overconfidence

The tendency to be more confident in your abilities than is warranted by reality.

belief perseverance

The tendency to cling to one's initial beliefs even after they have been discredited.

framing

The way an issue is presented, which can significantly influence a person's judgment.

actor-observer bias

Attributing your own actions to situational factors but attributing others' actions to their disposition or personality.

availability heuristic

Judging the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples or instances come to mind.

representative heuristic

Judging a person or event based on how well it matches a particular prototype or stereotype.

divergent thinking

A thought process used to generate many creative and unique ideas.

convergent thinking

A thought process that narrows down possible solutions to a single, best answer.

assimilation

The process of fitting new information into an existing mental framework.

accomodation

The process of altering or creating a new mental framework to fit new information.

gambler’s fallacy

The mistaken belief that future random events are influenced by past events (e.g., believing you are "due" for a win after a series of losses).

cognitive schema

A mental framework or concept that helps you organize and interpret information.

self-serving bias

The tendency to attribute your successes to your own abilities and your failures to external factors.

algorithm

A methodical, step-by-step procedure or formula that guarantees a solution to a problem.

heuristic

A simple mental shortcut or rule-of-thumb that allows you to make judgments quickly and efficiently.