Critical Thinking Text Adventure

Welcome, adventurer, to the Mind Maze. Completing this journey will yield a grand reward- the ability to differentiate between different cognitive biases introduced in the Hanscomb's Tome of Knowledge that accompanies this course. The maze is complex and labyrinthine, nuanced and unforgiving. You must use your sharpest critical thinking faculties to find success. Are you ready to challenge your mind and uncover the hidden biases that shape our thoughts and decisions? [[I'm ready. Send me to the maze!]] [[I'm not ready. I need more time.]]

Test two

You are whisked off to a bustling marketplace, filled with merchants peddling wares of various sorts. As you browse, you overhear a conversation nearby. [[Listen in]] [[Move on]]

You pause and collect your thoughts. You take a deep breath; inhaling through your nose and out through your mouth. ((Use the arrow on the left to return to the prior screen. This navigation scheme will work throughout the entirety of this game!))

An intrigued customer is browsing a suspicious potion seller's wares, entranced by a particular bottle: a Youth Elixir. Vendor: "This magical elixir is the key to eternal youth! One drink, and you'll find yourself feeling ten years younger. And it will only cost ye ten gold pieces. Countless customers swear by its powerful effects!" Customer: "Ten gold pieces? I do want it, but that is a hefty price. I'm not sure... Have ye any evidence to support this claim?" Vendor: "Well uh... You see, no fanciful science could capture the true extent of its powers. But look at all these satisfied customers!" [[Continue]]

You mind your own business, continuing to browse the marketplace. After a few moments pass, your curiosity gets the best of you, and you find yourself drawn back to the merchant's conversation. [[Listen in]]

Great job! Confirmation bias is people’s tendency to process information by looking for, or interpreting, information that is consistent with their existing beliefs. The customer is seeking scientific evidence, but ultimately succumbs to confirmation bias by instead favoring anecdotal evidence (the satisfied customers) that supports their belief in the elixir's effectiveness. [[Continue in the Mind Maze]]

Not quite- the anchoring bias is a cognitive bias that causes us to rely heavily on the first piece of information we are given about a topic.

Not quite- the gambler's fallacy, occurs when an individual erroneously believes that a certain random event is less likely or more likely to happen based on the outcome of a previous event or series of events.

Not quite- the availability heuristic describes our tendency to use information that comes to mind quickly and easily when making decisions about the future.

As the would-be customer readies himself to purchase the elixir, he hesitates for just a moment further. A passerby notices this, and joins in on the conversation. Passerby: "Excuse me, did I hear that you were interested in this magical elixir of youth? I tried it last week, and I feel amazing! My skin is smoother and my energy levels are through the roof. If you had seen me last week, you would notice a tremendous difference!" Customer: "That's fantastic to hear. I think that pushes me over the edge. I'll take three bottles." What cognitive bias is the customer displaying now? [[Anchoring Bias]] [[Social Proof]] [[Gambler's Fallacy]] [[The Availability Heuristic]]

The vendor flashes a toothy grin and pulls out a receipt book with the names of over thirty people who purchased the elixir. He says that they are all very pleased. He even claims to have used it himself to miraculous effect. The customer feels satisfied by what the vendor tells him, feeling more convinced of the elixir's effectiveness. He's nearly entirely bought in. What cognitive bias is the customer displaying? [[Anchoring Bias]] [[Gambler's Fallacy]] [[Confirmation Bias]] [[The Availability Heuristic]]

Great job! Social proof is the psychological concept that people are influenced in their decision making by others, compelling them to act within societal norms or expectations. [[Continue Forward]]

Not quite- the availability heuristic is a type of mental shortcut that involves estimating the probability or risk of something based on how easily examples come to mind. If we can think of many examples, then we assume it happens frequently.

You wander deeper into the market, having witnessed a customer being convinced into buying what very well may be snake oil. Customer: "I can't believe this! I frequent this market as we all do. And yet, my loyalty is dismissed. These greedy merchants keep raising their prices. It's like you're trying to squeeze every last coin out of us!" Vendor: "Sorry, but the cost of ingredients has risen lately. We have to adjust our prices accordingly, or we wouldn't be able to make a living." Customer: "Lies! This is just pure greed from all of you." What cognitive bias is the customer displaying? [[Gambler's Fallacy]] [[The Availability Heuristic]] [[Self-Serving Bias]] [[Anchoring Bias]]

Great job- the self-serving bias describes when one attributes positive events and successes to their own character or actions but blame negative results on external factors unrelated to their character. The customer is quick to attribute the price increase to the greed of the vendors rather than considering external factors like rising ingredient costs. [[Onward!]]

As you stroll through the market, you ponder two scenarios. In one scenario, dark clouds gather overhead, and a sudden thunderstorm strikes, unleashing its devastating fury upon the market. In the other scenario, a customer discovers a rare gem hidden among a merchant's wares, sparking excitement and speculation among onlookers. Does the vivid display of the thunderstorm influence your perception of its likelihood compared to the discovery of the rare gem? [[Yes]] [[No]]

Your response acknowledges the sway of the availability heuristic. The powerful imagery of the thunderstorm may dominate the imagination, leading to an overestimation of its likelihood in the marketplace. The availability heuristic describes our tendency to think that whatever is easiest for us to recall should provide the best context for future predictions. Knowing this serves as a reminder to critically evaluate the basis of our judgments, considering their true probability above the vividness of the scenario. [[To the end of the market!]]

Your response demonstrates an awareness of the sway of the availability heuristic. While the imagery of the thunderstorm is powerful, recognizing the true likelihood of its occurrence amidst the ordinary events of the marketplace is a testament to your discerning judgment. The availability heuristic describes our tendency to think that whatever is easiest for us to recall should provide the best context for future predictions. Knowing this serves as a reminder to critically evaluate the basis of our judgments, considering their true probability above the vividness of the scenario. [[To the end of the market!]]

Toward the edge of the market is a merchant selling coffee and tea, as well as savory and sweet treats. The sweet treats look exceptionally sugary. You hold strong convictions about protecting your health and living a lifestyle that is conducive to that. You know that consuming sugary treats is harmful to your health, yet you find yourself drawn to buying one and indulging. How would you reconcile this behavior with your beliefs? [[Embrace the decadence]] [[Justify the indulgence]] [[Confront the contradiction]]

You embrace the decadence, succumbing easily to the tempting allure of the indulgent treat before you. As you savor each delicious bite, a brief sense of pleasure washes over you, momentarily eclipsing the discordant thoughts swirling within your mind. As the last crumb disappears, unease begins to set in. How does this indulgence align with your deeply held beliefs about health? ''Cognitive dissonance '' is the mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. Embracing the decadence may have provided temporary relief, but did not solve the underlying tension between your actions and beliefs. [[To the end of the market!]]

You choose to justify the indulgence, seeking rationalizations or excuses to reconcile your behavior with your beliefs. Perhaps you convince yourself that a small treat won't hurt, or that you deserve a reward for your hard work. Yet, as you attempt these rationalizations, a sense of dissonance lingers beneath the surface. Can these justifications resolve the conflict between your indulgence and your health-conscious beliefs? ''Cognitive dissonance'' is the mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. Reflect on the limitations of justification in resolving this, and consider alternative paths toward true resolution. [[To the end of the market!]]

You confront the contradiction head on, bravely delving into the discomfort to reconcile your actions with your beliefs. With courage and introspection, you examine the motivations behind your indulgence and the impact on your well-being. As you confront the contradiction, you may uncover deeper insights into your beliefs and behaviors, leading to growth and heightened self-awareness in the process. Though this may be challenging, the path to resolution lies in acknowledging and adressing the conflicting elements within. ''Cognitive dissonance'' is the mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. Consider the transformative potential of confronting cognitive dissonance and embrace the opportunity for self-discovery and growth. [[Finish up]]

You emerge from the maze, victorious over the various challenges you encountered. Your reward is an increased awareness of the pitfalls of cognitive biases. Through this experience, you learned about confirmation bias, self-serving bias, cognitive dissonance, availability heuristic, and social proof. Great job!