Lecture 2

Question 1

First Instinct Fallacy

Answer 1

Stick with initial hunch

Question 2

Availability Heuristic

Answer 2

Estimation of the likelihood of an event by how easily it comes to mind (our minds remember bad things more so than good things)

Question 3

3 Levels of Psychological analysis

Answer 3

Social Culture Influences (relating to others, personal relationships

Psychological (thoughts, feelings, emotions)

Biological (molecules, brain structure)

Question 4

Reciprocal Determinism

Answer 4

tendency for people to mutually influence each other’s behaviour

Question 5

Naive Realism

Answer 5

Belief that we see the world exactly as is

seeing is believing

Question 6

2 Biases

Answer 6

Confirmation Bias - seek evidence that supports our theory, distort evidence that contradicts

Disconfirmation Bias - seek out evidence inconsistent with a hypothesis we don’t believe and deny, distort consistent evidence

Question 7

What are the consequences of Bias

Answer 7

Belief Preservance - stick to our initial beliefs despite evidence

Question 8

What is pseudoscience?

Answer 8

Claims that seem scientific but aren’t - can be falsified, lack safeguards against confirmation bias and belief preseverance

Question 9

Emotional Reasoning Fallacy

Answer 9

Using emotion as guide to add validity to claim, (table 1.4 p 19 first 5)

Question 10

Dangers of Pseudoscience

Answer 10

Opportunity Cost: what we give up (time, energy, etc.)

Inability to think critically as citizens, impact how important issues are dealt with

Question 11

Who was directly harmed by Pseudoscience?

Answer 11

Candace Newmaker “Rebirthing Therapy”