CHAPTER 13: REASONING AND DECISION MAKING Denying the consequent A conditional syllogism of
the following form: If p, then q; not q; therefore, not p.
Affirming the antecedent A conditional syllogism of The consequent, q, is denied in the second premise.
the following form: If p, then q; p; therefore, q. The This is a valid form of conditional syllogism. See Table
antecedent, p, is affirmed in the second premise. This 13.1. See also Affirming the antecedent. (13)
is a valid form of conditional syllogism. See Table 13.1.
See also Denying the consequent. (13) Evolutionary perspective on cognition The idea that
many properties of our minds can be traced to the
Affirming the consequent A conditional syllogism of evolutionary principles of natural selection. See also
the following form: If p, then q; q; therefore, p. This is Social exchange theory. (13)
an invalid form of conditional syllogism. See Table 13.1.
See also Denying the antecedent. (13) Expected emotion Emotion that a person predicts he
or she will feel for a particular outcome of a decision.
Antecedent In a conditional syllogism, the term p in (13)
the conditional premise “If p, then q.” See also
Consequent. (13) Expected utility theory The idea that people are
basically rational, so if they have all of the relevant
Availability heuristic Basing judgments of the information, they will make a decision that results in the
frequency of events on what events come to mind. (13) maximum expected utility. (13)
Base rate The relative proportions of different classes Falsification principle The reasoning principle that to
in a population. Failure to consider base rates can often test a rule, it is necessary to look for situations that
lead to errors of reasoning. (13) would falsify the rule. (13)
Categorical syllogism A syllogism in which the Illusory correlation A correlation that appears to exist
premises and conclusion describe the relationship between two events, when in reality there is no
between two categories by using statements that begin correlation or it is weaker than it is assumed to be. (13)
with all, no, or some. (13)
Immediate emotion Emotion that is experienced at the
Conclusion The final statement in a syllogism, which time a decision is being made. (13)
follows from the two premises. (13)
Incidental immediate emotion Immediate emotion
Conditional syllogism Syllogism with two premises unrelated to the decision. An example is an emotion
and a conclusion, like a categorical syllogism, but associated with a person’s general disposition.
whose first premise is an “If . . . then . . .” statement. Contrast with Integral immediate emotion. (13)
(13)
Inductive reasoning Reasoning in which a conclusion
Confirmation bias The tendency to selectively look for follows from a consideration of evidence. This
information that conforms to our hypothesis and to conclusion is stated as being probably true, rather than
overlook information that argues against it. (13) definitely true, as can be the case for the conclusions
from deductive reasoning. (13)
Conjunction rule The probability of the conjunction of
two events (such as feminist and bank teller) cannot be Integral immediate emotion Immediate emotion that
higher than the probability of the single constituents is associated with the act of making a decision.
(feminist alone or bank teller alone). (13) Contrast with Incidental immediate emotion. (13)
Consequent In a conditional syllogism, the term q in Law of large numbers The larger the number of
the conditional premise “If p, then q.” See also individuals that are randomly drawn from a population,
Antecedent. (13) the more representative the resulting group will be of
the entire population. (13)
Decisions Making choices between alternatives. (13)
Neuroeconomics An approach to studying decision
Deductive reasoning Reasoning that involves making that combines research from the fields of
syllogisms in which a conclusion logically fol- lows psychology, neuroscience, and economics. (13)
from premises. See also Inductive reasoning. (13)
Omission bias The tendency to do nothing to avoid
Denying the antecedent A conditional syllogism of the having to make a decision that could be interpreted as
following form: If p, then q; not p; therefore, not q. This causing harm. (13)
is an invalid form of conditional syllogism. See Table
13.1. See also Affirming the consequent. (13)
the following form: If p, then q; not q; therefore, not p.
Affirming the antecedent A conditional syllogism of The consequent, q, is denied in the second premise.
the following form: If p, then q; p; therefore, q. The This is a valid form of conditional syllogism. See Table
antecedent, p, is affirmed in the second premise. This 13.1. See also Affirming the antecedent. (13)
is a valid form of conditional syllogism. See Table 13.1.
See also Denying the consequent. (13) Evolutionary perspective on cognition The idea that
many properties of our minds can be traced to the
Affirming the consequent A conditional syllogism of evolutionary principles of natural selection. See also
the following form: If p, then q; q; therefore, p. This is Social exchange theory. (13)
an invalid form of conditional syllogism. See Table 13.1.
See also Denying the antecedent. (13) Expected emotion Emotion that a person predicts he
or she will feel for a particular outcome of a decision.
Antecedent In a conditional syllogism, the term p in (13)
the conditional premise “If p, then q.” See also
Consequent. (13) Expected utility theory The idea that people are
basically rational, so if they have all of the relevant
Availability heuristic Basing judgments of the information, they will make a decision that results in the
frequency of events on what events come to mind. (13) maximum expected utility. (13)
Base rate The relative proportions of different classes Falsification principle The reasoning principle that to
in a population. Failure to consider base rates can often test a rule, it is necessary to look for situations that
lead to errors of reasoning. (13) would falsify the rule. (13)
Categorical syllogism A syllogism in which the Illusory correlation A correlation that appears to exist
premises and conclusion describe the relationship between two events, when in reality there is no
between two categories by using statements that begin correlation or it is weaker than it is assumed to be. (13)
with all, no, or some. (13)
Immediate emotion Emotion that is experienced at the
Conclusion The final statement in a syllogism, which time a decision is being made. (13)
follows from the two premises. (13)
Incidental immediate emotion Immediate emotion
Conditional syllogism Syllogism with two premises unrelated to the decision. An example is an emotion
and a conclusion, like a categorical syllogism, but associated with a person’s general disposition.
whose first premise is an “If . . . then . . .” statement. Contrast with Integral immediate emotion. (13)
(13)
Inductive reasoning Reasoning in which a conclusion
Confirmation bias The tendency to selectively look for follows from a consideration of evidence. This
information that conforms to our hypothesis and to conclusion is stated as being probably true, rather than
overlook information that argues against it. (13) definitely true, as can be the case for the conclusions
from deductive reasoning. (13)
Conjunction rule The probability of the conjunction of
two events (such as feminist and bank teller) cannot be Integral immediate emotion Immediate emotion that
higher than the probability of the single constituents is associated with the act of making a decision.
(feminist alone or bank teller alone). (13) Contrast with Incidental immediate emotion. (13)
Consequent In a conditional syllogism, the term q in Law of large numbers The larger the number of
the conditional premise “If p, then q.” See also individuals that are randomly drawn from a population,
Antecedent. (13) the more representative the resulting group will be of
the entire population. (13)
Decisions Making choices between alternatives. (13)
Neuroeconomics An approach to studying decision
Deductive reasoning Reasoning that involves making that combines research from the fields of
syllogisms in which a conclusion logically fol- lows psychology, neuroscience, and economics. (13)
from premises. See also Inductive reasoning. (13)
Omission bias The tendency to do nothing to avoid
Denying the antecedent A conditional syllogism of the having to make a decision that could be interpreted as
following form: If p, then q; not p; therefore, not q. This causing harm. (13)
is an invalid form of conditional syllogism. See Table
13.1. See also Affirming the consequent. (13)
