heuristic & shortcomings

heuristics

mental shortcut you use to make decision when you have limited info

examples

• stereotypes

• empty subway car

• availability

• party label

• supporters

• economic

• likability

availability

most accessible info vs best source

party label

attachment to party = voting for that party

supporters

the kinds of people that support a policy/politican (hate students = voting against stuff they like)

economic

economic conditions inform view of the country as a whole

likeability

politicians doing things that are likeable

shortcomings

• hard questions

• lack of pertinent, reliable info

• lack of incentives

• lack of usable feedback

hard questions (sc)

idea that a lot of political issues cant be fixed/solved thru info shortcuts

lack pf pertinent info (sc)

the motivations of people who make poltical content

• financial

• polarizing topics, high salience, sensationalistic news

lack of incentives (sc)

rational political ignorance (society doesn’t incentivize for being politically aware)

lack of usable feedback (sc)

hard to fact check people out of obviously erroneous political beliefs