Even after her girlfriends reported seeing her boyfriend Jeff out at clubs with other women, Jackie continues to believe her boyfriend and her friends who say the women are just old neighborhood friends. This is an example of

• A. divergent thinking.
• B. a mental set.
• C. confirmation bias.
• D. functional fixedness.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the key elements of the scenario: Jackie is presented with evidence that contradicts her belief about her boyfriend's fidelity.
2. Understand the concept of confirmation bias: It is the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.
3. Analyze how Jackie is exhibiting confirmation bias: Despite evidence from her friends, she chooses to believe her boyfriend's explanation, which aligns with her existing belief.
4. Differentiate confirmation bias from other cognitive biases: For example, functional fixedness involves seeing objects as only functioning in their usual way, while a mental set is a tendency to approach problems using a mindset that has worked in the past.
5. Conclude that Jackie's behavior is an example of confirmation bias because she is favoring information that supports her belief and dismissing evidence that contradicts it.