After media coverage of two spectacular train crashes, people overestimated the probability of being killed or injured in a train crash and exaggerated the dangers of train travel. This example illustrates:
A)the availability heuristic.
B)functional fixedness.
C)the representativeness heuristic.
D)mental set.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The availability heuristic is the tendency to judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily it comes to mind. In this case, the media coverage of the train crashes made them more available in people's minds, leading them to overestimate the probability of being killed or injured in a train crash.

After Media Coverage of Two Spectacular Train Crashes, People Overestimated