In many situations, we often need to make quick judgments, and to help us, our minds have developed shortcuts known as heuristics. These heuristics are generally useful, but the challenge is that we tend to rely on them too much, leading to mistakes. Two key types of heuristics are the substitution heuristic and the availability heuristic.

The substitution heuristic involves answering an easier question instead of the one we’re actually asked. For instance, if we’re presented with the question, “How successful will a woman be as a sheriff?” our minds may automatically swap it with the simpler question, “Does this woman look like a good sheriff?” This means we may skip researching her background and policies and make a judgment based solely on appearance, potentially rejecting a highly qualified candidate just because she doesn’t fit our mental image.

On the other hand, the availability heuristic occurs when we overestimate the likelihood of something we hear often or remember easily. For example, even though strokes cause more deaths than accidents, many people believe accidental deaths are more likely. This is because we encounter accidental deaths more in the media, and they make a stronger impression, making us remember them more vividly. As a result, we may not accurately assess the risks.

Heuristics are valuable tools for quick decision-making, but they can sometimes lead us astray when we rely on them too heavily. Being aware of these mental shortcuts can help us make more informed judgments and avoid common errors in our thinking.