What are some examples of heuristics in decision-making?

What are some examples of heuristics in decision-making?

Heuristics are mental shortcuts that help us make decisions quickly. For example, the availability heuristic is when we judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples come to mind.

Can you give me more examples of different types of heuristics?

Sure! Another example is the representativeness heuristic, where we assess the probability of an event based on how similar it is to a prototype. For instance, if someone is described as quiet and studious, we might assume they are a librarian rather than a salesperson.

How do these heuristics affect our daily decisions?

Heuristics can simplify our decision-making process, but they can also lead to biases. For example, relying too much on the availability heuristic might cause us to overestimate the risk of rare events, like plane crashes, if we frequently hear about them in the news.

Are there any strategies to avoid biases from heuristics?

Yes, one strategy is to be aware of your biases and take time to gather more information before making a decision. Additionally, considering alternative viewpoints can help mitigate the effects of heuristics.