Psychology
The Availability Heuristic and Risk Perception
Quick fact
In a classic study, participants overestimated the number of murders and underestimated deaths from stroke, simply because murders receive more media coverage—making them more 'available' in memory.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever been more afraid of a plane crash than a car crash, even though car crashes are far more common? Why do vivid and recent events seem more likely than they really are?