Familiarity heuristic

The familiarity heuristic is a mental shortcut we use when making decisions or judgments based on how familiar something feels to us. When confronted with a question or choice, we often rely on what we recognize or have encountered before, assuming that familiar information is more likely to be correct or relevant. For example, if you’re asked about a historical event, you might trust your memory of a well-known figure associated with it, rather than seeking out detailed information. This can sometimes lead to errors, as familiarity does not always equate to accuracy or truth.