Pseudoscience

Question 1

Ad hoc immunising hypothesis

Answer 1

Escape hatch or loophole that defenders of a theory use to protect their theory from being contradicted by evidence

Question 2

Confirmation bias

Answer 2

The tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or theories.

Question 3

Belief perseverance

Answer 3

The tendency to cling to one’s initial belief even after receiving new information that contradicts or disconfirms the basis of that belief.

Question 4

Bandwagon fallacies

Answer 4

Type of logical fallacy based on reasoning that is unsound - that one must accept or reject an argument because of everyone else who accepts it or rejects it. Similar to peer pressure.

Question 5

Terror management theory

Answer 5

Theory proposing that our awareness of our death leaves us with an underlying sense of terror with which we cope by adopting reassuring cultural worldviews

Question 6

Emotional reasoning fallacy

Answer 6

Error of using our emotions as guides for evaluating the validity of a claim. Also know as the affect heuristic

Question 7

Circular reasoning fallacy

Answer 7

Error of basing a claim on the same claim reworded in slightly different terms

Question 8

Bias blind spot

Answer 8

Lack of awareness of our biases, coupled with an awareness of others’ biases

Question 9

Opportunity cost

Answer 9

Investment of time, energy and effort in a questionable treatment that can lead people to forfeit the chance to obtain an effective treatment