Dinner Date Decision Making

What concept is illustrated by Wally's response to Sharon's question about where to go for dinner?

Wally says, "My coworkers keep telling me about that new Japanese place downtown, so it must be a great place to eat."

What is the term for the mental shortcut that Wally used in his response?

Answer:

availability heuristic

Explanation:

Availability heuristic is a cognitive bias that is used as a shortcut in decision-making where the probability of an event occurring is judged by how easily similar instances come to mind. In this case, Wally's response illustrates the use of availability heuristic as he relied on the information from his coworkers about the new Japanese restaurant downtown to conclude that it must be a great place to eat.

Availability heuristic is a mental shortcut that helps individuals make quick decisions based on the information that is readily available to them. It can influence perceptions, judgments, and decisions in various situations, often leading to biased outcomes.

While availability heuristic can be helpful in making decisions efficiently, it is important to be aware of its potential limitations and biases. It is essential to consider other factors and gather more information before making important decisions to ensure that they are well-informed and objective.