Cognitive biases
Finding Counter-Examples for the Availability Heuristic
This task prompts a client to research and list examples that run counter to a vivid; easily.
A client can become fixated on a particularly memorable or frightening event, one that now colors their perception of a specific risk. Even when they intellectually understand the low statistical odds, the mental image of a catastrophe, a rare illness, a freak accident, a violent crime, is so persistent that it feels like an imminent personal threat.
This directive gives your client a concrete structure to systematically gather information that runs counter to their focal fear. The goal is to move their attention from the single vivid instance to a broader, more realistic set of data. They walk away with a more grounded assessment of the actual risk, diminishing the emotional weight of the outlier event.
Finding Counter-Examples for the Availability Heuristic
Select a specific negative event you saw, heard about, or experienced that makes a certain outcome feel very likely.
Use the table to document this. In the first column, describe the memorable event. In the second, write the general belief that this single event creates for you.
Your task is to research and find information that contradicts your belief. Look for statistics, reports, or other documented cases that show a different pattern. List at least three pieces of counter-evidence in the final column for each belief.
| Vivid Example | My Assumption | Counter-Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 2. 3. | ||
| 1. 2. 3. | ||
| 1. 2. 3. |
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