Representativeness Heuristic Examples
When you meet a sweet older woman who reminds you of your grandmother, you might immediately assume she's kind and trustworthy. This happens because your brain matches her to your mental prototype of "grandmotherly figure" and applies all associated traits.
Similarly, if you meet someone who practices yoga, talks about spiritual healing, and uses essential oils, you might automatically assume they work as a holistic healer rather than a teacher or nurse. Your brain has matched their characteristics to your mental image of a certain profession.
These examples show how we use mental shortcuts to categorize people based on superficial similarities to our existing mental prototypes. While sometimes accurate, these quick judgments can lead to incorrect assumptions and stereotyping.
Think Critically: How might the representativeness heuristic lead to unfair stereotyping in school settings? Consider how students might be misjudged based on appearance or interests.