Jay, a popular TV show host, made a joke regarding Ford Pinto's and the dangers of owning them because of their "perceived" tendency to blow up. Many Pinto owners took issue with Jay's view as presented, in part due to a fear that they could never re-sell their car. Jay's very public joke and its potential to impact peoples' perceptions is an example of a(n) __________
A) representative heuristic.
B) availability heuristic.
C) exemplar.
D) additive strategy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jay's joke relied on the availability heuristic, as it played on the vivid and memorable examples of Pintos exploding in order to make a point about their supposed danger. This type of heuristic can influence people's perceptions and judgments based on how easily examples come to mind.

Jay, a Popular TV Show Host, Made a Joke Regarding