Trust Issues? Recognize the Availability Heuristic 🧠

First step is recognizing the bias. Awareness of how frequently you may rely on readily available information can help you question its validity and explore more data.

📊 Seeking Statistics: Always look for statistical evidence. If a topic feels prevalent because it’s discussed often, like shark attacks or plane crashes, find the real statistics to gauge its true frequency.

📝 Diverse Sources: Broaden your information sources. If you always watch the same news channel or scroll through a similar feed, you’re likely reinforcing the same ideas. Diversifying sources can provide a more balanced perspective.

🧠 Long-term Memory vs. Short-term Recollections: Challenge your mind to think beyond recent memories. Ask yourself, “Is this belief based on long-term trends or just what’s currently on top of my mind?”

🪞 Reflection on Past Decisions: Reflect on past decisions where you might have fallen prey to this heuristic. Understanding these instances can improve your decision-making process in the future.

🗣️ Consultation and Discussion: Discuss your thoughts with others. Different viewpoints can help challenge your biases and bring in angles you might not have considered.

#mentalmodels #cognitivebias #bias #heuristic #brainfood