When memorable examples feel more common

When asked how often something happens, you may begin by recalling examples. Events that come to mind easily can make a pattern seem common or likely.

The availability heuristic uses the ease of recalling or imagining examples as a guide to judgment. It can be useful because common experiences often are easier to recall. It can mislead when recall is shaped by features other than frequency.

The key distinction is between how accessible an example is in memory and how representative it is of the events you are trying to understand.