SP: CH 3 (II. Heuristics)

B. Availability Heuristic

***Used in judgements of frequency - We use the availability heuristic when making judgments or decisions about how frequently occurring something is, how common something is, or how likely something is to occur in the future - "Top of the head" phenomenon: How easily something pops into our heads. - The things that come to mind more easily or are recalled more readily, are thought to have a higher probability of affecting us than things that do not. Factors increasing availability & perceptions of risk: 1. contain vivid imagery (9/11) 2. involuntary (i.e., outside of our control) (airplane vs car) 3. unfamiliar (ebola) 4. extreme

A. Representativeness Heuristic

***Used in judgments of classification. - We use the representativeness heuristic when judging or deciding how to classify an object or deciding which category something belongs to - The representativeness heuristic occurs when we ignore important information (like the base rate), and instead, base our decision on how similar an object is to a PROTOTYPE. - Automatic Process "Prototype": your mental representation of an average or typical member. "Base rate fallacy": when we do not account for the base rate (i.e., the proportion of something in the population). In this example, the base rate for lawyers is much higher than librarian

Heuristics

- A heuristic is a simplifying rule or mental shortcut used when making judgments or decisions. - The purpose of using heuristics is to make judgment and decision making more efficient (even at the expense of accuracy).

Herbert Simon - Bounded Rationality

- Simon points out that human decision making is not rational because of limits to knowledge and cognitive capacity - Even if we did have access to all the information necessary to make the "perfect" decision, it would take an inordinate amount of time to process all of the available information. - Instead of operating from the standpoint of "rationality," Simon says we operate wit"h Bounded Rationality." - When operating with bounded rationality, our goal in decision making is not to maximize (i.e., make the "perfect" decision), but to satisfice (i.e., make the "good enough" decision). - Therefore, for most of our everyday decisions, it is not worth maximizing or making the perfect decision; satisficing or making the "good-enough" decision is sufficient.

B. Availability Heuristic -- 2. Ironic Processing (thought suppression)

- The more we try NOT to think of something, the more likely we are to think about it.

B. Availability Heuristic -- 1. Chronic Accessibility

- When a concept is constantly/chronically available - "The more we use a concept or schema, the more likely we are to use it in the future." EX: abused child -- THREAT (see threat in everything) **self-priming

B. Availability Heuristic -- 5. Confirmation Bias

A bias when we process information -- once a stereotype/schema is activated, we look for information that fits the schema.

B. Availability Heuristic -- 7. Illusion of Control

Belief/illusion that we have control over random/chance events. EX: blowing on dice -- yatzee

B. Availability Heuristic -- 6. Illusory Correlation

Correlation between BIAS -- REALITY - Theory Perseverance - Illusion is a byproduct of correlation (Minority -- Crimes) We process away stories about: - Non-minorities committing crimes/minorities doing good

(Automatic) Monitoring Process

In order to not thing about something you unconsciously have to think about that thing. **If operating process is not working

B. Availability Heuristic -- 4. Priming

Making a concept or schema more available (ACTIVATING the schema) - Explicit (controlled): Name a bird (parrot) -- fav hockey team (pens) -- name bird (penguin)? - Implicit (automatic) Picture of flashing penguin -- name bird? (penguin)

B. Availability Heuristic -- 3. False Consensus

When we overestimate the extent to which others agree with our opinions, because of "attitude similarity." - Constantly surrounded by people who agree with us - It is AVAILABLE in your memory that people agree with us.

(Controlled) Operating Process

You actively think about other things other than "x," (SUPPRESSING/DISPLACEMENT) however, when we let our guard down, or our controlled processing becomes fatigued or compromised, thoughts of "x" come to the surface. **doesn't work when drunk