2.1.3 (Heuristics) Flashcards
What is the role of person perception, attributions, attitudes, and stereotypes in social cognition?
They are crucial for interpreting, analyzing, remembering, and using information about the social world, influencing decision-making and interpersonal interactions.
These elements help individuals understand and navigate social situations.
What is cognitive dissonance?
The psychological discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes.
People often avoid cognitive dissonance through cognitive biases.
Define heuristics.
Heuristics are strategies for solving problems or making decisions based on previous experiences, which may not guarantee correct outcomes.
They serve as mental shortcuts for quick judgments.
What is the availability heuristic?
A judgment strategy based on how easily specific examples come to mind, leading to decisions influenced by readily available information.
For example, recalling a recent accident may sway travel decisions.
How does the representative heuristic function?
It categorizes a person, object, or event by comparing it to a typical member of the category based on pre-existing concepts.
This can lead to misjudgments if the comparison is based on stereotypes.
What is the affect heuristic?
A judgment influenced by the current emotional state of an individual, affecting decision-making and risk assessment.
Positive emotions can lead to underestimating risks.
Describe the anchoring heuristic.
A judgment strategy where the first piece of information received acts as a mental anchor influencing future evaluations.
For instance, seeing a higher-priced item first can make subsequent items appear cheaper.
What negative influences can prejudice, discrimination, and stigma have on mental wellbeing?
They can adversely affect a person’s or group’s mental health and wellbeing.
Strategies for reducing these influences are essential for improving mental health outcomes.
Fill in the blank: Heuristics are another type of mental shortcut we use to make _______.
judgments quickly and efficiently.
They are based on previous experiences.
True or False: The availability heuristic guarantees the correct decision.
False
It can lead to poor decision-making based on easily recalled information.
What is a common example of the affect heuristic in decision-making?
Feeling happy can lead to underestimating risks associated with a decision.
This might result in taking more risks than one normally would.
What can influence the effectiveness of heuristics?
Context, prior experiences, and emotional states.
Different situations may lead to varying judgments based on these factors.
