ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Recognition heuristic

The recognition heuristic is like a superpower that your brain uses to make decisions. It works like this: when you're faced with two things, one that you recognize and one that you don't, your brain automatically thinks that the thing you recognize is better or more important.

For example, let's say you're trying to choose which animal is bigger - an elephant or a hippopotamus. If you recognize the word "elephant" but you don't recognize the word "hippopotamus", your brain will automatically assume that the elephant is bigger because you recognize it.

But, this superpower is not perfect - sometimes it can lead to wrong decisions. For instance, if you recognize the logo of a popular brand of chips but have never tasted them before, you may assume that they are better than a lesser-known brand, even if the lesser-known brand tastes better.

The recognition heuristic is a helpful tool that your brain uses to quickly make decisions, but you should be aware that it can sometimes lead you astray.