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 bias refers to the tendency of people to judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily they can recall or imagine relevant examples. In this case, people may recall more vividly the news stories about airplane crashes that receive extensive media coverage, which makes them think that flying is more dangerous than driving. However, they fail to consider the statistical reality that fatal car accidents occur much more frequently.

Fatal Automobile Accidents Occur Much More Frequently Than Do Fatal