Fatal automobile accidents occur much more frequently than do fatal airplane crashes, yet airplane crashes receive a disproportionate amount of media coverage. As a result, some people are overly fearful of flying in planes yet have no problem riding in cars. Which of the following cognitive biases best explains this disconnect between these people's fears and the statistical realities?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The availability heuristic explains this disconnect because it is a cognitive bias that causes people to overestimate the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory, which is influenced by how recent and how emotionally charged those events are. Airplane crashes, being dramatic and widely reported, are more memorable than the more common but less reported car accidents, leading to an inflated perception of their frequency.

Fatal Automobile Accidents Occur Much More Frequently Than Do Fatal