托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'anchoring effect' refers to the tendency for individuals to rely heavily on the first piece of information (the 'anchor') when making decisions. Once an anchor is set, subsequent judgments are made by adjusting away from that anchor, but the adjustment is often insufficient. This cognitive bias influences various aspects of daily life, such as pricing, negotiation, and even personal estimates. The anchor can be arbitrary, yet it systematically skews people's decisions.

Professor: Let me give you a classic example. In a study, participants were asked to guess the percentage of African nations in the United Nations. Before answering, they spun a wheel of fortune that was rigged to land on either 10 or 65. Although the wheel was clearly unrelated to the question, those who spun 10 gave an average estimate of 25%, while those who spun 65 estimated around 45%. The initial number served as an anchor, pulling their estimates toward it. Even when participants were told the number was random, the effect persisted. This shows how a completely arbitrary starting point can unconsciously influence our decisions and judgments.