Availability Bias
What is it?
Availability Bias is a cognitive bias where people overestimate the importance or likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind. If something can be quickly recalled—often because it’s recent, dramatic, or emotionally impactful—people tend to believe it’s more common or probable than it actually is.
Availability Bias happens when we judge how likely something is based on how easily we can remember examples of it. If something comes to mind quickly, we assume it happens more often than it actually does.
Simple Examples:
Shark Attacks vs. Falling Objects: After watching a news report about a shark attack, you might think shark attacks are very common. In reality, you’re far more likely to be injured by something falling from a shelf. But since shark attacks are dramatic and memorable, they stick in your mind more.
Plane Crashes vs. Car Accidents: Plane crashes get a lot of media coverage, so people often fear flying more than driving. However, car accidents are far more frequent.
Lottery Winners: Seeing stories of lottery winners on TV might make you believe winning is common. In reality, millions of people lose every day, but those stories rarely make the news.
In short, if it’s easier to remember, we think it happens more often! ...