Psychology
Cognitive Biases in Risk Perception and Public Health Communication
Quick fact
After a single plane crash, many people dramatically overestimate the risk of flying, even though driving remains statistically far more dangerous — this is the availability bias at work.
Why this is interesting
We often fear the wrong things — dying in a plane crash over a car accident, or a rare virus over everyday obesity. Why do our instincts about danger so often miss the mark?