Decision-Making Biases

Representativeness heuristic

Judging by resemblance instead of probability.

What Is Representativeness heuristic?

Representativeness heuristic is a thinking trap where judging by resemblance instead of probability.

How It Tricks You

It can make one option feel obvious before the tradeoffs have been checked.

Real-World Example

Someone assumes a quiet person must be a librarian rather than checking probabilities.

Seen Online As

• The chart looks convincing before I check the sample.
• One number is being asked to carry the whole argument.
• The data point feels cleaner than the data really is.

What To Ask Instead

What base rates or actual data apply?

Related Thinking Traps

• Anchoring bias
• Confirmation bias
• Framing effect
• Loss aversion

Common Situations

• Thinking Traps at Work
• Thinking Traps in Money Decisions

Quick FAQ

What is Representativeness heuristic?

Judging by resemblance instead of probability.

What is an example of Representativeness heuristic?

Someone assumes a quiet person must be a librarian rather than checking probabilities.

How do I spot Representativeness heuristic?

What base rates or actual data apply?