What are heuristics in psychology?

What are heuristics in psychology?

Heuristics are mental shortcuts that help people make decisions quickly and efficiently, often based on past experiences.

Can you give me some examples of common heuristics?

Sure! Some common heuristics include the availability heuristic, where people judge the likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind, and the representativeness heuristic, where they assess similarity to make judgments.

How do heuristics affect decision-making?

Heuristics can speed up decision-making but may also lead to biases or errors, as they simplify complex problems.

Are there any positive aspects of using heuristics?

Yes, heuristics can be beneficial as they allow for quick decisions in uncertain situations, saving time and cognitive resources.