The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut that helps us make decisions quickly. It works by allowing us to think of the first example that comes to mind when we need to make a decision. For example, if you are asked to think of a type of animal, you might think of a dog because it is the first one that comes to mind. This type of thinking can be helpful in some situations, but it can also lead us to make bad decisions if we don't take the time to think more deeply about the problem.
Availability heuristic, cognitive bias, logical fallacy, mental shortcut.
The availability heuristic is a cognitive bias that occurs when one makes a decision based on the ease with which examples of a certain concept can be brought to mind. This heuristic is often used in place of a more thorough analysis of a situation or problem, thus resulting in an illogical decision. This cognitive bias can be seen in everyday life, for example, when a person overestimates the likelihood of an event occurring because it is more memorable or salient. The availability heuristic can lead to decision making errors, as it does not take into account all of the available evidence. Instead, it relies on the most easily accessible information and can thus lead to inaccurate conclusions.
Cognitive biases, logical fallacies, mental shortcuts, probability judgment, memory recall, recency effect, representative bias, salience bias, event overestimation.
CITATION : "Jessica Adams. 'Availability Heuristic.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=213581 (Accessed on March 27, 2023)"
We have 71.901 Topics and 224.230 Entries and Availability Heuristic has 2 entries on Design+Encyclopedia. Design+Encyclopedia is a free encyclopedia, written collaboratively by designers, creators, artists, innovators and architects. Become a contributor and expand our knowledge on Availability Heuristic today.