Streetlight Effect

By Deane Barker •

Also known as: Availability Cascade

Accessibility affects belief. People’s beliefs are more heavily influenced by information that’s easy to consume.

Examples

An old joke says that Bob is looking for his something under a streetlight. John asks Bob what happened, and Bob says that he lost his wallet on the other side of the street. John then asks why Bob is looking for it on this side of the street, and Bob responds: “The light is better over here.”

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