Social Cognition: Heuristics

Heuristic

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

Positive influences

saves time, accurate decision making, efficient problem solving, can protect from dangerous situations

Negative influences

prone to error

Anchoring Heuristic

forming our judgements based on the first information recieved about an idea or concept.

Availability Heuristic

form a judgement, solve a problem, or make decision based on information that is easily available. from memories and past experiences

Representative Heuristic

making a categorical judgement about an idea, event or person based on their similarity to other items in that category (stereotyping)

Affect Heuristic

involves using emotions to make a judgement or decision 'gut feeling"