Ap Psycho- The Need for Psychological Science

Hindsight bias

when someone claims to have known the result all along after something happens

Hindsight Bias Example

• A spectator claiming, “I knew they were going to win!” after the game was over.

• An investor thinking, “I knew that stock was going to go up!” after the stock had already increased in value.

• A person stating, “I knew that relationship wasn't going to work out!” after a couple breaks up.

Overconfidence

the tendency to overestimate the accuracy of your beliefs and judgments.

→ Often, we think we’re more correct than we actually are. 

Overconfidence Example

• Some people may think they have a great sense of direction even when visiting an unknown area.

• Many people think they’re better drivers than they actually are.

Confirmation bias

The tendency to search for information that supports our view and ignore/distort the evidence that is contradictory.

Confirmation bias Example

• a person believes that eating chocolate is healthy for them everyday—> will look for information that helps supports this and ignore all info that goes against this

Social Desirability bias

when someone give answers to questions that they believe will make them look good to others, concealing their true opinions or experiences.

-report more desirable attributes.

Social Desirability bias Examples

• most people would deny that they drive after drinking alcohol because it reflects poorly on them and others would most likely disapprove.

• downplay how often they visit casinos or use cocaine.

Critical Thinking

An intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information.

Critical Thinking Example

• an ability to question

• to acknowledge and test previously held assumptions

• to recognize ambiguity

• to examine, interpret, evaluate, reason, and reflect

• to make informed judgments and decisions