In cognitive psychology, why do people tend to form opinions about unfamiliar people and places?

• A. Because forming opinions about unfamiliar people and places is unrelated to any psychological processes
• B. Because humans rely on cognitive schemas to quickly interpret new information and reduce uncertainty
• C. Because people always have direct experience with every person and place they encounter
• D. Because opinions about unfamiliar people and places are formed only through conscious reasoning and never through automatic processes

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of cognitive schemas: These are mental structures that help individuals organize and interpret information based on prior knowledge and experiences.
2. Recognize that when encountering unfamiliar people or places, individuals use these schemas to quickly make sense of new information without needing extensive direct experience.
3. Acknowledge that this process helps reduce uncertainty and cognitive load by allowing the brain to fill in gaps with existing knowledge patterns.
4. Note that this opinion formation often happens automatically and unconsciously, rather than through deliberate, conscious reasoning.
5. Conclude that the tendency to form opinions about unfamiliar people and places is primarily due to the reliance on cognitive schemas to interpret new information efficiently.