What are some examples of heuristics we use in daily life?

What are some examples of heuristics we use in daily life?

Heuristics are mental shortcuts that help us make decisions quickly. For example, when shopping, we might choose a brand we recognize instead of researching all options.

Can you give me more examples?

Sure! Another example is the availability heuristic, where we judge the likelihood of events based on how easily we can recall similar instances, like fearing plane crashes after hearing about one in the news.

How do these heuristics affect our decision-making?

Heuristics can speed up decision-making but may also lead to biases or errors. For instance, relying too much on the representativeness heuristic can cause us to overlook important information.

Are there any situations where heuristics are particularly useful?

Yes, heuristics are especially useful in situations with time constraints or limited information, like making quick choices in a grocery store.