托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in psychology called 'anchoring effect.' This refers to our tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information we receive when making decisions. Let me give you two examples. First, imagine you're shopping for a used car. The seller quotes a price of $10,000. Even if you later find out that similar cars are worth only $7,000, you might still end up negotiating around $8,000 or $9,000. That initial $10,000 'anchor' has influenced your perception of what's reasonable. Second, consider a restaurant menu. If a wine is listed at $100, other wines priced at $40 or $50 suddenly seem like great deals, even if they're overpriced. The expensive wine serves as an anchor, making the others appear more affordable. In both cases, the first number we encounter shapes our subsequent judgments and choices.