AP Psychology Practice Test

Which concept involves estimating the likelihood of events by their resemblances to prototypes?

1. Functional fixedness

2. Representativeness heuristic

3. Belief bias

4. Framing effect

The correct answer is: Representativeness heuristic

The concept that involves estimating the likelihood of events by their resemblance to prototypes is the representativeness heuristic. This cognitive shortcut is used by individuals to make judgments about the probability of an event based on how closely it matches a typical example or prototype of that event. For instance, if someone meets a person who is quiet, enjoys reading, and wears glasses, they might hastily conclude that this person is more likely to be a librarian rather than, say, a truck driver, because the characteristics align more closely with their prototype of a librarian. This approach can often lead to errors, especially if individuals overlook statistical probabilities in favor of how well a particular situation fits a mental image or stereotype. The other options represent different cognitive concepts that do not focus on using prototypes for estimating likelihoods. Functional fixedness relates to problem-solving and the inability to see a new use for an object. Belief bias refers to the tendency to let one’s beliefs influence reasoning and evaluation of logical arguments. The framing effect describes how information is presented and how that can influence decision-making and judgments, rather than relying on prototypes.