Kallellisuus

Kallellisuus is a term that describes a specific type of cognitive bias. It refers to the tendency for individuals to overestimate the likelihood of a particular event occurring, especially when that event is vivid, easily recalled, or has been recently experienced. This bias is closely related to the availability heuristic, which is the mental shortcut that relies on immediate examples that come to a given person's mind when evaluating a specific topic, concept, idea or decision. When an event is particularly memorable, perhaps due to its emotional impact or media coverage, people may perceive it as more common than it actually is.

For example, after seeing numerous news reports about plane crashes, an individual might develop a heightened sense of fear of flying and overestimate the risk of such an event, despite statistical data indicating that air travel is very safe. Similarly, if someone recently witnessed a car accident, they might become more preoccupied with the possibility of being in one themselves, even if their driving habits haven't changed and the overall accident rate remains constant. Kallellisuus can influence decision-making in various aspects of life, from personal choices to broader societal perceptions. Understanding this bias is important for critical thinking and making more objective judgments based on evidence rather than easily recalled but potentially unrepresentative examples.