U2: Heuristics

Heuristics

another type of mental short cuts we use to mak judgements quickly and effectively/efficiently

Heuristics are a strategy for

solving a problem or making a decision that is based on experience with similar types of problems but cannot garuntee a correct outcome

Heuristics example

learnt through experience in playing classic Monopoly is to purchase as many properties as possible, particularly those that enable hotel rental → this will not ensure winning but usually increases one’s chances of doing so

avalibilty heuristics

involves making a judgement based on how easy or difficult is it to bring specific examples to mind

avalibilty heuristics example

after seeing several news reports about car thefts, you might make a judgement that vechile theft is common in your area

avalibility heuristics lead to bad decisions

when certain events are very easily avaliable in memory, we may be led to believe that those kinds of events are more common then they actually are

avalibility heuristics leading to bad decisions examples

after seeing news reports about people losing their jobs, you might start to believe that you are in danger of being laid-off. You start lying awake in bed each night worrying that you are about to be fired

representitive heuristic

involved categorsing a person, object, or event or anything else by judging how closely it matches our idea of a typical member of the category

representitive heuristic example

thinking that because someone is wearing a suit/tie and carrying a briefcase, that they must be a lawyer, because they look like the sterotype of a lawyer

representitive heuristic leads to bad decisions

doesn’t actually have anything to do with probability- and yet, we put more value on it than we do on information that is relevant

representitive heuristic leads to bad decisions example

in court cases, a jury might make a judgement based on how well the accused matches their particular idea of a guilty person, rather than on a strict consideration of their avaliable evidence

affect heuristic

involves making a judgement that is influenced by the emotions being experienced at the time

affect heuristic example

two kids arrive at a local park to play, one child has spend a lot of time playing on swings at a neighbour’s house, so has nothing but positive feelings when they see the park’s swing set, immediatley deciding the swings will be fun. the other child however, recently had a negative experience while playing on a swing set, when the see the swings at the park they draw on this recent negative memory and decide the swings are a bad choice

affect heuristics leading to bad decision making

our relative feelings of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ about a particular person, ibject, or activity can impact the decisions we make

affect heuristic leading to bad decision making example

when you have a bad day at work, you go shopping, you do this because you know it makes you feel good on other occasions, and you like that feeling; however, it implies the risk that you’ll waste your money on things you don’t really need