Availability vs Representative Heuristics Module 35 Availability Heuristic

Availability vs. Representative Heuristics Module 35

Availability Heuristic - Uses information from our memory to judge the likelihood of events When instances of an event are easily recalled we consider that event more likely to reoccur. Causes us to overestimate how likely something will occur Representative Heuristic – Judging two things to be similar because of how similar something is compared to a typical case (prototype) we already have in our mind. I think it will be this way because this situation, object or person fits my definition/prototype of what this should be like. As in- If it looks like a member of Group X, then it is a member of Group X

Amanda is about 8 months pregnant. You have not seen her in a few months. Since she doesn’t look pregnant (she doesn’t show the cute pregnant bump you’d expect) you assume she already had the baby. Your error in judgment is thanks to which heuristic?

Representative Heuristic – she represents what you think of as a non-pregnant lady

You think that the Detroit Lions ALWAYS lets you down in the Playoffs. Last year’s loss is particularly memorable. Your error in judgment is thanks to which heuristic?

Availability – you can think of an example so easily although in this case you’d be right. The Lions always do let us down.

You go to college and are preparing yourself for your first big midterm exam in Arab-Israeli History. You got in to the test expecting a 100 point multiple choice exam, but instead you have a one essay exam. Your error in judgment is thanks to which heuristic?

Representative Heuristic – Your prototype for a midterm exam based on your high school experience is MC questions and not one essay.

Your brother just got attacked by a bear at the Manitowoc County Zoo! Yikes! When you ask for $5 to go on your school’s fieldtrip that spring to the Manitowoc County Zoo, your mom doesn’t sign the permission slip OR let you go, because the bears there are very dangerous and zoos are very dangerous places! Her error in judgment is thanks to which heuristic?

Availability Heuristic – She thinks because she can think of an example of someone getting mauled by the bear, it is likely to happen again.

I just bought a house! Yeah, me! You immediately assume it is a little 3 bedroom home in a quiet neighborhood in Forest Park, but you’re wrong. I just bought a $7. 8 million dollar, 32 room mansion on the lake near Chicago. Your error in judgment is thanks to which heuristic?

Representative Heuristic – What teacher lives in a 32 room mansion? This doesn’t meet your prototype.

My dad got in an accident yesterday!! You immediately assume it is a car accident. It wasn’t. He hit himself in the head on a basketball hoop while trying to dunk and now has nine stitches. Your error in judgment is thanks to which heuristic?

Representative – Your prototype for “accident” is a car accident not a hoops accident.

You have a red car. Your boyfriend has a red car. You two like to speed, and as a result get speeding tickets a few times a year. Your friends would say that “red cars get more speeding tickets. ” Their error in judgment is thanks to which heuristic?

Availability – They think of you easily in your red car speeding and think it’s true for everyone.

Your mom calls you to tell you that she got a new Porsche. You assume it is a shiny, flashy black 911 turbo, but it is actually a dorky mom. SUV Cayenne. Your error in judgment is thanks to which heuristic?

Representative – Your prototype for a Porsche is the 911 turbo not the SUV.

If you make a quick judgment that “ALL Pod 2 TEACHERS ARE JERKS. ” Your error in judgment is thanks to which heuristic?

Representative – Because you know a few that are “pigs” you think all of them from that area are the same.