Sexual Orientation- The Anchoring Heuristic Or Bias Essay Samples

The anchoring heuristic or bias is one metal heuristic that may be used to explain the resistance of the great grandfather. This bias is used by people when they approximate the probability of some occurrence using their existing estimate as opposed to beginning from scratch and ascertaining the core basis of the information. The anchoring bias influences the final decision and understanding of the people who use it as they use their past knowledge to make a current decision (Bernstein & Nash, 1999). People with this bias are not open to new information as they do not adjust to it as fast as they are required.
In this context, the great grandfather is of the opinion that homosexuality which includes gay or lesbianism and bisexuality are either a mental disorder or personal choices. Their understanding is based on the past as people considered people with these signs as outcasts in the society. An individual who exhibited such traits was viewed to have a mental problem and was treated with disgust in the times of the old man. However, the recent world and studies have indicated otherwise. The current system explains that being a gay or a lesbian or having a heterosexual orientation is a natural occurrence just as having someone who is heterosexual.
The anchoring heuristic will influence the decision made by the great grandfather and he will find it extremely hard to deviate from his original understanding that homosexuality and bisexuality are natural occurrences. The rationale is that the old man will use or anchor his past understanding of the vice and conclude that it is indeed a personal choice or a mental disorder. It may, therefore, take a lot of time before the grandfather can be fully convinced otherwise about the issue (Bernstein & Nash, 1999).

References

Bernstein, D., & Nash, P. (1999). Essentials of psychology (Annotated instructor's ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.