Which of the following best explains why cognitive biases can cause us to make irrational decisions?

• A. Cognitive biases always improve our decision-making by helping us process information more quickly.
• B. Cognitive biases only affect decisions when we are under extreme stress.
• C. Cognitive biases have no impact on decision-making and are unrelated to irrational choices.
• D. Cognitive biases systematically distort our perception and judgment, leading us to make decisions that deviate from logical reasoning.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that cognitive biases are systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment, which means they affect how we perceive and interpret information.
2. Recognize that these biases influence our decision-making by causing us to rely on mental shortcuts or heuristics that can lead to errors in judgment.
3. Acknowledge that because cognitive biases distort our perception and judgment, they can cause us to make decisions that do not align with logical or optimal reasoning.
4. Note that cognitive biases do not always improve decision-making; instead, they often lead to irrational choices by skewing the way we process information.
5. Conclude that the best explanation for why cognitive biases cause irrational decisions is that they systematically distort our perception and judgment, leading to deviations from logical reasoning.