Which cognitive bias is characterized by the mistaken belief that two unrelated events are associated?

The correct answer is illusory correlation, which is a cognitive bias where individuals perceive a relationship between two unrelated events or variables, leading them to believe that there is a connection when none exists. This phenomenon occurs because people often rely on cognitive shortcuts or heuristics to make sense of the world, and in doing so, they may overemphasize instances that support their beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.

Illusory correlations can be particularly powerful in forming stereotypes or misconceptions. For example, if someone observes a particular group of people engaging in a specific behavior in a few notable instances, they might wrongly conclude that all members of that group exhibit that behavior, even if the statistical evidence does not support such a relationship.

In contrast, inductive reasoning refers to drawing general conclusions from specific instances, which is distinct from mistakenly believing in correlation. Myside bias involves favoring information that aligns with one’s preconceptions, rather than misjudging the relationship between unrelated events. The falsification principle is a method of testing hypotheses by attempting to disprove them and does not relate to the perception of false correlations. Understanding illusory correlation helps to illuminate how biases can shape our perception of reality, often leading us to make erroneous judgments.