Josh lives in Wilmington, NC, and has recently learned that there was a hurricane warning issued for his location. In deciding whether to evacuate or remain at his house he remembered pictures from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy of individuals clinging to their rooftops waiting for air lifts to safety. He quickly decides to evacuate. His choice was the result of the:
A) representativeness heuristic.
B) better-than-average effect.
C) availability heuristic.
D) confirmation bias.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Josh's decision to evacuate was influenced by the availability heuristic, where he recalled vivid and dramatic images of people clinging to their rooftops during previous hurricanes. This mental shortcut led him to conclude that a hurricane warning in his location posed a significant risk and required him to take precautionary measures like evacuating.

Josh Lives in Wilmington, NC, and Has Recently Learned That