Attribute Substituion
Psych 🧠 - 245/300
Hey Reader,
Been a long while since we discussed a captivating ‘Effect’ in Psychology!
Let us learn about the effect called “Attribute Substituion”.
What is it?
A psychological process known as attribute substitution is thought to be responsible for a number of cognitive biases and perceptual illusions.
It happens when someone must make a computationally complex judgement (of a target attribute) and instead chooses to use a heuristic attribute that is simpler to calculate.
Instead of the more self-aware reflective system, this substitution is thought to occur in the automatic intuitive judgement system.
As a result, when someone tries to respond to a challenging question, they might actually respond to a similar but different question without realising it.
Example:
Kahneman gives an example where some Americans were offered insurance against their own death in a terrorist attack while on a trip to Europe, while another group were offered insurance that would cover death of any kind on the trip.
Even though "death of any kind" includes "death in a terrorist attack," the former group were willing to pay more than the latter.
Kahneman suggests that the attribute of fear is being substituted for a calculation of the total risks of travel. Fear of terrorism for these subjects was stronger than a general fear of dying on a foreign trip. [1]
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What do I need to know?
1. Simplification Shortcut: Attribute substitution is a cognitive shortcut where the mind replaces a complex question with a simpler one. This can lead to biased judgments and decisions.
2. Implicit Biases: It highlights how implicit biases can influence our thinking, as the mind may substitute difficult questions about unfamiliar topics with more familiar and biased judgments. Recognizing this tendency can aid in more accurate decision-making.
Sources:
https://psychology.fandom.com/wiki/Attribute_substitution#Examples
Great read.