Scientific Definition
Gigerenzer's view: simple heuristics that exploit the structure of the environment can beat complex models.
Plain-English Definition
Gigerenzer's view: simple heuristics that exploit the structure of the environment can beat complex models.
Feynman Explanation
Less information, better decision — under the right conditions.
Core Principle
Gigerenzer's view: simple heuristics that exploit the structure of the environment can beat complex models.
Mechanisms
Pending editorial review.
Gigerenzer's view: simple heuristics that exploit the structure of the environment can beat complex models.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Sometimes the right move is fewer inputs, not more.
Inputs (Triggers)
Pending editorial review.
Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
Less information, better decision — under the right conditions.
Examples
- Take-the-best, recognition, and tallying heuristics often match or beat regression.
- Sometimes the right move is fewer inputs, not more.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Match the heuristic to the environment — don't bolt complexity on for theater.
Measurement Approaches
Pending editorial review.
Evidence
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
The Perverse Incentive Lens™
How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.
- Match the heuristic to the environment — don't bolt complexity on for theater.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Interactive Mini Network
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Knowledge Graph Neighbors
Auto-linked to the rest of the Human Behavior Taxonomy by family, domain, dimension, and shared keywords.
Deriving general rules from specific examples; the leap from instance to concept.
The brain evolved to reason adaptively, not always truthfully, to reduce the cost of errors.
We solve problems by adding, even when subtracting would be better.
Assuming that if one option is true, another must be false, when both can be true.
Presuming a purposeful actor behind events that may have no actor at all.
What cannot be settled by experiment is not worth debating.
A finite set of well-defined instructions for solving a problem or performing a computation.
Every model simplifies reality; some are still useful.
Researchers favor conclusions aligned with their school, team, or sponsor.
Using personal stories or isolated examples instead of evidence.
Claiming something is true or better because most people believe it.
Assuming something is true because it is probable or possible.