What is the availability heuristic?
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The Bias: Why do many people fear flying more than driving?
Plane crashes are vivid and easy to recall. We judge likelihood by how easily examples come to mind. Source: Wikipedia – Availability heuristic
Where It Shows Up: Where else?
Overestimating rare risks after news coverage. Heavy coverage makes rare events feel common. Source: Wikipedia – Availability heuristic
The Fix: Fix?
Look up base rates before judging risk. Data replaces memorable stories. Source: Wikipedia – Base rate fallacy