What are some real-world examples of heuristics?

What are some real-world examples of heuristics?

Heuristics are mental shortcuts that help us make decisions quickly. For example, the 'availability heuristic' is when people judge the likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind. A common real-world example is when people overestimate the danger of flying after hearing about a plane crash.

Can you give me more examples?

Sure! Another example is the 'representativeness heuristic,' where people categorize situations based on how similar they are to a prototype. For instance, if someone sees a tall person playing basketball, they might assume that person is a basketball player.

What about in everyday decision-making?

In everyday life, people often use the 'anchoring heuristic.' For example, if you see a shirt priced at $100 and then find it on sale for $70, you might perceive it as a great deal, even if $70 is still more than you would normally pay.

How do these heuristics affect our choices?

Heuristics can lead to quick decisions, but they can also result in biases. For instance, relying too heavily on the availability heuristic might cause someone to avoid flying, even though statistically, it's safer than driving.