A pattern of deviation in judgment that occurs in particular situations.

A pattern of deviation in judgment that occurs in particular situations.

• A. Heuristic
• B. Cognitive bias
• C. Confirmation bias
• D. Availability bias

Answer: (B)

Cognitive bias is a pattern of deviation in judgment that occurs in particular situations. It refers to systematic errors in thinking that arise under pressure, uncertainty, or complex information, leading to conclusions that aren’t fully supported by the evidence. Heuristics are mental shortcuts used to process information quickly; they can generate biases, but they are the mechanism, not the general phenomenon itself. Confirmation bias is a specific type of cognitive bias where you seek or weigh information that confirms preconceptions, while availability bias is another specific type where you judge likelihood based on how easily examples come to mind. The general concept that best fits the description is cognitive bias, as it encompasses the broad, patterned deviations in judgment that can appear in various situations, with the other options representing particular forms or causes of that broader phenomenon.

Cognitive bias is a pattern of deviation in judgment that occurs in particular situations. It refers to systematic errors in thinking that arise under pressure, uncertainty, or complex information, leading to conclusions that aren’t fully supported by the evidence. Heuristics are mental shortcuts used to process information quickly; they can generate biases, but they are the mechanism, not the general phenomenon itself. Confirmation bias is a specific type of cognitive bias where you seek or weigh information that confirms preconceptions, while availability bias is another specific type where you judge likelihood based on how easily examples come to mind. The general concept that best fits the description is cognitive bias, as it encompasses the broad, patterned deviations in judgment that can appear in various situations, with the other options representing particular forms or causes of that broader phenomenon.