Even though stomach cancer kills more people than plane crashes do, most people tend to assume that plane crashes cause more deaths.This misconception seems to arise from ____, since plane crash fatalities tend to be widely publicised and are therefore relatively easy for people to recall.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The given scenario is an example of the availability heuristic. This cognitive bias occurs when people judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily they can bring examples of it to mind. In this case, people are more likely to remember and recall instances of plane crashes due to their widespread coverage in the media, leading to the assumption that they cause more deaths than they actually do.

Even Though Stomach Cancer Kills More People Than Plane Crashes