Question at position 62 Wei-Tang is trying to choose between two muffins. One is advertised as 95% fat free, and the other is marketed as 5% fat. Wei-Tang chooses the first one because it sounds better, even though the fat content in both muffins is the same. What phenomenon does this most clearly illustrate?mental setframing effecthindsight biasfunctional fixedness

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

In this question, we’re evaluating how presentation of information influences choice.
Option 1: mental set. This refers to being stuck in a habitual way of thinking due to prior experience, leading to difficulty solving new problems. While it could affect problem-solving, it doesn’t capture the influence of wording on preference in this scenario.
Option 2: framing effect. This is the phenomenon where people’s decisions are influenced by how information is presented or framed, such as describing something as fat-free versus 5% fat, even when actual content is equivalent. This aligns with Wei-Tang choosing the first muffin because its label sounds more favorable, despite identical fat content.
Option 3: hindsight bias. This is the tendency to see events as having been predictable after they have already occurred, often summarized as the "I knew it all along" feeling. It does not explain the initial choice between two equally similar items.
Option 4: functional fixedness. This cognitive bias restricts a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used, which affects problem-solving with tools or objects, not judgments based on labeling or framing of options.
Thus, the scenario primarily demonstrates how different framings of the same information can steer preference, rather than reflecting a habitual thinking pattern, post-event evaluation bias, or a rigid use of objects. The key mismatch in the other options is their focus on different cognitive processes that aren’t at work in this specific choice situation.

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