Which heuristic assesses the likelihood of events based on how closely they resemble prototypes?

The representativeness heuristic is a cognitive shortcut that helps individuals make judgments about the likelihood of events by comparing how closely they resemble a particular prototype or typical example. When using this heuristic, people evaluate the probability of an event based on how much it fits an existing mental model or stereotype they have.

For example, if someone encounters a quiet, bookish individual, they might assume this person is a librarian rather than a salesperson because they closely match the stereotype or prototype of a librarian. This reliance on representative characteristics can lead to quick and intuitive decisions, albeit sometimes with inaccuracies.

The other options do not represent this concept. Functional fixedness refers to a cognitive bias that hinders problem-solving by restricting the use of an object to its typical function. The anchoring heuristic involves relying heavily on the first piece of information encountered when making decisions. Convergent thinking pertains to generating a single, correct solution to a problem. None of these options involve assessing events based on resemblance to prototypes, making the representativeness heuristic the correct choice.