Affect heuristic

The affect heuristic is a mental shortcut where our feelings influence our decisions and judgments. When we have a positive or negative emotional response to something, that feeling can shape how we perceive its risks or benefits without much deliberation. For example, if we like a product, we might assume it's high quality and safe; if we dislike it, we might see it as risky or poor. This shortcut helps us make quick judgments based on our emotions, but it can sometimes lead to biased or less rational choices because feelings override more detailed analysis.