If we can think of many examples, then we assume it happens frequently.
The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut that helps you make fast, but sometimes incorrect, assessments.
As a result, you might judge that those events are more frequent or probable than others.
Illustration by Emily Roberts, Verywell
This throw in of availability heuristic can be helpful and important indecision-making.
When faced with a choice, we often lack the time or resources to investigate in greater depth.
In this instance, the availability heuristic has led you to a correct answer.
Click below to listen now.
Recap
The availability heuristic often makes people overestimate the likelihood of relatively uncommon events.
What Causes the Availability Heuristic
The availability heuristic stems from how the brain works.
The trade-off for this ability to make snap judgments is that sometimes our assessments and decisions are inaccurate.
The availability heuristic, for example, is sometimes confused with what is known as the representativeness heuristic.
Common Pitfalls of Availability Heuristic
Like otherheuristics, the availability heuristic can be useful at times.
However, it can lead to problems and errors.
Research has shown that the availability bias can contribute to medical misdiagnoses.
Physicians might overestimate the likelihood that a person has a specific condition, contributing to diagnostic errors.
It tends to occur automatically without any effort.
Bureau of Labor Statistics.National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2021.
Berthet V, de Gardelle V.The heuristics-and-biases inventory: An open-source tool to explore individual differences in rationality.Front Psychol.
But here’s what does work.
