Which heuristic is influenced by recent experiences or the easiest examples that come to mind?

The availability heuristic is based on the principle that people tend to rely on immediate examples that come to their minds when evaluating a specific topic, concept, method, or decision. This heuristic is influenced by recent experiences, familiarity, or vividness of certain instances, leading individuals to judge the frequency or probability of an event based on how easily they can recall similar instances.

For example, if someone has recently seen news reports about airplane accidents, they may overestimate the danger of flying compared to driving, despite statistics showing that flying is safer. The availability heuristic highlights how cognitive shortcuts can shape perceptions, often leading to biases in judgment and decision-making. This reflects the human tendency to prioritize immediate, tangible experiences over statistical reality, which can lead to skewed reasoning in various contexts.