Glossary A
Glossary A
Deutsch: Verfügbarkeitskaskade / Español: Cascada de disponibilidad / Português: Cascata de disponibilidade / Français: Cascade de disponibilité / Italiano: Cascata di disponibilità
An Availability Cascade is a self-reinforcing cycle in which a collective belief gains increasing plausibility through its repeated public expression, often driven by media amplification and social dynamics. Originating in behavioral economics and cognitive psychology, this phenomenon illustrates how perceptions of risk or importance can become distorted as they spread through society, even in the absence of objective evidence. It highlights the interplay between individual cognition and group behavior, demonstrating how shared narratives can override rational assessment.
Availability heuristic refers to a mental rule of thumb whereby people base a judgment on the ease with which they can bring something to mind.