Which heuristic may lead to ignoring other relevant information during decision-making?

The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut that relies on immediate examples that come to a person's mind when evaluating a specific topic or decision. When individuals use this heuristic, they tend to base their judgments on information that they readily remember, which can often reflect recent or vivid experiences. This reliance on readily available information can lead to the underestimation or complete disregard of other relevant data or perspectives that may be crucial for making a well-informed decision.

For instance, if someone has recently read about a plane crash, they might overestimate the dangers of air travel because that information is fresh and easily recalled. Consequently, they may ignore statistics showing that flying is much safer than driving, leading to skewed perceptions based on limited information.

By focusing mainly on what comes to mind, the decision-maker may overlook a broader analysis of the situation that could provide a more accurate understanding and lead to a better outcome.