Mental shortcut · 4 minute read
Availability Heuristic
What comes to mind fastest can feel more common than it really is.
Try thisCheck the data before trusting the example you remember.
In plain English
What is it?
Vivid, recent, or emotional examples are easier to remember, so we often mistake memorability for frequency.
In the real world
What does it look like?
After hearing about a rare accident, you may overestimate how likely the same accident is to happen to you.
Make it useful
How do you think more clearly?
Check the data before trusting the example you remember.