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The Psychology of Risk and Uncertainty

Description: This quiz covers the psychology of risk and uncertainty, focusing on how individuals perceive and respond to risky situations.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: economics economic psychology risk perception uncertainty
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Which of the following is NOT a common heuristic used by individuals to make decisions under uncertainty?

  1. Representativeness

  2. Availability

  3. Anchoring

  4. Expected Utility Theory


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Expected Utility Theory is a normative theory that prescribes how individuals should make decisions under uncertainty, rather than a heuristic that individuals actually use.

According to Prospect Theory, individuals are more sensitive to:

  1. Gains

  2. Losses

  3. Both gains and losses equally

  4. Neither gains nor losses


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Prospect Theory suggests that individuals are more sensitive to losses than gains, meaning they feel the pain of losing more than the pleasure of gaining.

The framing effect refers to the phenomenon that:

  1. Individuals' preferences change depending on how options are presented.

  2. Individuals are more likely to take risks when presented with positive outcomes.

  3. Individuals are more likely to avoid risks when presented with negative outcomes.

  4. Individuals' preferences remain the same regardless of how options are presented.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The framing effect demonstrates that individuals' choices can be influenced by the way information is presented, even if the underlying options are objectively the same.

Which cognitive bias leads individuals to overestimate the likelihood of rare events?

  1. Availability bias

  2. Confirmation bias

  3. Hindsight bias

  4. Illusion of control


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Availability bias occurs when individuals judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily they can recall instances of that event, leading to an overestimation of the likelihood of rare events.

The illusion of control refers to the tendency of individuals to:

  1. Overestimate their ability to control outcomes.

  2. Underestimate their ability to control outcomes.

  3. Accurately assess their ability to control outcomes.

  4. Ignore the role of chance in outcomes.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The illusion of control is a cognitive bias that leads individuals to believe they have more control over outcomes than they actually do, often resulting in risk-taking behavior.

Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences risk perception?

  1. Personal experience

  2. Cultural background

  3. Gender

  4. Objective probability


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Objective probability is a mathematical calculation of the likelihood of an event occurring, whereas risk perception is subjective and influenced by various factors.

According to the dual-process theory of risk perception, individuals use:

  1. Only intuitive processes to evaluate risks.

  2. Only analytical processes to evaluate risks.

  3. Both intuitive and analytical processes to evaluate risks.

  4. Neither intuitive nor analytical processes to evaluate risks.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The dual-process theory suggests that individuals use both intuitive (fast, emotional) and analytical (slow, rational) processes to evaluate risks.

The concept of risk aversion refers to:

  1. Individuals' preference for taking risks.

  2. Individuals' preference for avoiding risks.

  3. Individuals' indifference towards risks.

  4. Individuals' inability to assess risks.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Risk aversion is the tendency of individuals to prefer certain outcomes with lower expected value over uncertain outcomes with higher expected value.

Which of the following is NOT a strategy for managing risk?

  1. Diversification

  2. Hedging

  3. Insurance

  4. Ignoring risk


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Ignoring risk is not a strategy for managing risk, as it involves failing to take steps to reduce or mitigate potential losses.

The concept of uncertainty aversion refers to:

  1. Individuals' preference for known risks over unknown risks.

  2. Individuals' preference for unknown risks over known risks.

  3. Individuals' indifference towards known and unknown risks.

  4. Individuals' inability to distinguish between known and unknown risks.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Uncertainty aversion is the tendency of individuals to prefer known risks, even if they are more severe, over unknown risks.

Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences uncertainty perception?

  1. Ambiguity

  2. Complexity

  3. Controllability

  4. Objective probability


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Objective probability is a mathematical calculation of the likelihood of an event occurring, whereas uncertainty perception is subjective and influenced by various factors.

The concept of ambiguity aversion refers to:

  1. Individuals' preference for ambiguous situations over unambiguous situations.

  2. Individuals' preference for unambiguous situations over ambiguous situations.

  3. Individuals' indifference towards ambiguous and unambiguous situations.

  4. Individuals' inability to distinguish between ambiguous and unambiguous situations.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Ambiguity aversion is the tendency of individuals to prefer situations where the probabilities of outcomes are known over situations where the probabilities are unknown or uncertain.

Which of the following is NOT a strategy for coping with uncertainty?

  1. Seeking information

  2. Reducing complexity

  3. Increasing control

  4. Ignoring uncertainty


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Ignoring uncertainty is not a strategy for coping with uncertainty, as it involves failing to take steps to reduce or mitigate potential negative consequences.

The concept of risk homeostasis refers to:

  1. Individuals' tendency to maintain a constant level of risk in their lives.

  2. Individuals' tendency to increase their risk-taking behavior over time.

  3. Individuals' tendency to decrease their risk-taking behavior over time.

  4. Individuals' inability to assess risks accurately.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Risk homeostasis is the idea that individuals adjust their behavior to maintain a relatively constant level of perceived risk, often by increasing risk-taking behavior when they perceive a decrease in risk and vice versa.

Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences risk-taking behavior?

  1. Personality traits

  2. Cultural norms

  3. Gender

  4. Objective probability


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Objective probability is a mathematical calculation of the likelihood of an event occurring, whereas risk-taking behavior is influenced by various psychological and social factors.

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