1W · One Card Wiser

Build a mind you’re proud of.

Easy to remember does not mean common

The availability heuristic judges frequency using examples that come readily to mind.

The idea

Vivid or recent events are easier to recall. That ease can distort estimates of how often something happens.

An example

After several dramatic news reports, a rare event may feel more common than the statistics suggest.

Put it into practice

Check the base rate as well as the memorable story.

Further reading: OpenStax · Psychology 2e ↗

Test yourself: What can make an event seem unusually common?

A vivid example that is easy to recall

Memorable examples can dominate judgement without representing typical frequency.

Explanation and illustrative examples by One Card Wiser. Source linked for further reading.

Open this card in the app →

More Psychology ideas