Availability Cascade
We tend to believe something is more true or important the more it's repeated in public discourse.
The Availability Cascade is a cognitive bias where we tend to overestimate the truth or importance of information that's frequently repeated in public discussions. Essentially, it's like believing that a certain idea or concern is crucial just because we keep hearing about it everywhere. We tend to give more weight to information that's easily recalled, which often means information we've encountered frequently or recently. Think of it like believing a particular diet is the key to perfect health just because you've seen countless social media posts about it lately!
Example
Health Trends
You start believing that a certain superfood is essential for health because you've seen numerous articles and social media posts about it. Why? The repeated exposure makes the information more available in your mind, increasing its perceived importance.
In your professional life
Use Multi-Faceted Communication for Change
When introducing a new initiative or change, create a multi-faceted communication plan. This could involve a combination of formal presentations, informal chats, visual aids in common areas, and regular updates in team meetings. By presenting the idea through various mediums and contexts, you increase its visibility and perceived importance, potentially accelerating its acceptance and adoption within the organization.
Go deeper in ThinkBetter
The ThinkBetter app has the full Availability Cascade deep-dive: more examples, a quiz to test yourself, audio narration, and a weekly path that builds these ideas into a habit.
