Both distort how we judge reality, but confirmation bias filters for what we already believe, while the availability heuristic judges by what easily comes to mind.
| Confirmation bias | The availability heuristic | |
|---|---|---|
| The shortcut | Notice evidence that fits your view | Estimate likelihood by ease of recall |
| Driven by | What you want to be true | What's vivid, recent, or dramatic |
| Example | Googling to 'prove' a hunch | Fearing flying after one crash |
Confirmation bias is about beliefs — you keep the evidence that agrees with you. The availability heuristic is about memory — you overweight whatever's easy to picture. Both make a small, skewed sample feel like the whole truth.
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