DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS

AVAILABILITY HEURISTIC

• In use when we base our judgements on how mentally available info is.
• "Pop into mind", vivid, recent memories increase availability making it seem more common.
• Example: terrorists, casinos.

OVERCONFIDENCE

• Combination of heuristics when judging and eagerness to prove our beliefs.
• We will swiftly disapprove of findings that contradict our own opinions and beliefs.
• We can overestimate our abilities in the past, present, and future.
• Examples: Stock market, George Bush and Iraq

BELIEF PERSEVERANCE

• The tendency to cling to our beliefs with contradicting evidence.
• Fuels social conflict: study of people's opinion on capital punishment.
• When considering the other side, you become less bias.