PHIL101 Midterm Exam Questions with
Verified Correct Answers
Confirmation Bias
Seeking only evidence that supports what we already believe.
Denying Contrary Evidence
Resisting or ignoring evidence that contradicts your beliefs. *Subtle forms - applying more
scrutiny to opposing views
Motivated Reasoning
Reasoning for the purpose of supporting a predetermined conclusion, not to uncover the truth
(ex. a biased jury)
Availability Error
Relying on evidence not because it's trustworthy but because they are shocking or striking -
that is psychologically available.
*People give more weight to personal anecdotes
Priming Effect
an implicit memory phenomenon in which exposure to one stimulus (word, image, concept)
affects your opinion or actions.
Halo Effect
Observers tend to bend their judgement according to one patent characteristic of the person
(the halo), generalizing towards a judgement of that person's character.
Implicit Bias
, a particularly insidious hindrance to clear thinking when we form beliefs or attitudes about
racial or ethnic "groups other than our own" and "a negative attitude toward a group of people
that operates unintentionally or unconsciously. Could be all sorts of groups, not just races.
Mere Exposure Effect
the idea that just being exposed repeatedly to words or images (even without registering them
consciously) can induce a favorable or comfortable feeling towards them, whether or not
there is any good reason for doing so (affectionate side)
*Initial dislike can intensify from repeated exposure
False Consensus Effect
The tendency to overestimate the degree to which other people share our opinions, attitudes,
and preferences. (Our views aren't eccentric or beyond the pale; they are part of the majority.
If we believe that most people share our opinions, we are likely to hold them with must
stronger confidence and less likely to give them up when confronted with solid evidence and
reasoning to the contrary.
Dunning-Kruger Effect
The tendency for unskilled individuals to overestimate their own ability and the tendency for
experts to underestimate their own ability.
Sentence
a meaningful combination of words in accordance with the conventional rules of grammar.
Statements
Verified Correct Answers
Confirmation Bias
Seeking only evidence that supports what we already believe.
Denying Contrary Evidence
Resisting or ignoring evidence that contradicts your beliefs. *Subtle forms - applying more
scrutiny to opposing views
Motivated Reasoning
Reasoning for the purpose of supporting a predetermined conclusion, not to uncover the truth
(ex. a biased jury)
Availability Error
Relying on evidence not because it's trustworthy but because they are shocking or striking -
that is psychologically available.
*People give more weight to personal anecdotes
Priming Effect
an implicit memory phenomenon in which exposure to one stimulus (word, image, concept)
affects your opinion or actions.
Halo Effect
Observers tend to bend their judgement according to one patent characteristic of the person
(the halo), generalizing towards a judgement of that person's character.
Implicit Bias
, a particularly insidious hindrance to clear thinking when we form beliefs or attitudes about
racial or ethnic "groups other than our own" and "a negative attitude toward a group of people
that operates unintentionally or unconsciously. Could be all sorts of groups, not just races.
Mere Exposure Effect
the idea that just being exposed repeatedly to words or images (even without registering them
consciously) can induce a favorable or comfortable feeling towards them, whether or not
there is any good reason for doing so (affectionate side)
*Initial dislike can intensify from repeated exposure
False Consensus Effect
The tendency to overestimate the degree to which other people share our opinions, attitudes,
and preferences. (Our views aren't eccentric or beyond the pale; they are part of the majority.
If we believe that most people share our opinions, we are likely to hold them with must
stronger confidence and less likely to give them up when confronted with solid evidence and
reasoning to the contrary.
Dunning-Kruger Effect
The tendency for unskilled individuals to overestimate their own ability and the tendency for
experts to underestimate their own ability.
Sentence
a meaningful combination of words in accordance with the conventional rules of grammar.
Statements
