Myers Modules 34 and 35 Thinking and Problem Solving

Which term refers to all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating?

• schema
• heuristic
• cognition
• syntax
• language

Daniel was asked to write down as many words as he could think of that contained the letter d. To complete this task Daniel would rely on

• divergent thinking.
• framing.
• convergent thinking.
• belief perseverance.
• the availability heuristic.

Injury to the left ________ lobe damages the convergent thinking required for successful performance on intelligence tests.

• frontal
• parietal
• occipital
• temporal
• limbic

The sudden comprehension of the double meaning of a humorous pun best illustrates

• the representativeness heuristic.
• belief perseverance.
• the availability heuristic.
• the framing effect.
• insight.

Business managers are more likely to track the career achievements of those they once hired than the accomplishments of those they once rejected. This best illustrates

• the representativeness heuristic.
• fixation.
• the framing effect.
• confirmation bias.
• belief bias.

Vishant overestimates the proportion of family chores for which he takes sole responsibility because it's easier for him to recall what he has done than to recall what other family members have done. This best illustrates the impact of

• overconfidence.
• fixation.
• the representativeness heuristic.
• confirmation bias.
• the availability heuristic.

Pablo vainly searches for a screwdriver while failing to recognize that a readily available coin in his pocket would turn the screw. His oversight best illustrates: 

• functional fixedness.
• the availability heuristic.
• belief perseverance.
• the representativeness heuristic.

A defense attorney emphasizes to a jury that her client works full-time, supports his family, and enjoys leisure-time hobbies. Although none of this information is relevant to the trial, it is designed to make the defendant appear to be a typical member of the local community. The lawyer is most clearly attempting to take advantage 

• confirmation bias.
• functional fixedness.
• belief perseverance.
• the representativeness heuristic.

Which of the following is TRUE?

• People underestimate the accuracy of their judgments.
• People pay closest attention to information that disconfirms what they believe.
• It is difficult for most people to explain away their failures.
• People are overconfident about how they will perform on various tasks.

Advertisers know that a thirty-three percent discount sounds like a better deal than a discount of one third.  This best illustrates:

• framing.
• belief bias.
• representativeness heuristics.
• confirmation bias.