What is the main outcome of applying the representativeness heuristic?

The main outcome of applying the representativeness heuristic is finding the most probable answer based on prototypes. This cognitive shortcut leads individuals to make judgments about the probability of an event based on how similar it is to existing prototypes or stereotypes in their minds. For example, if someone encounters a person dressed in a lab coat, they may quickly conclude that the individual is a scientist because this appearance aligns with their mental prototype of what a scientist looks like.

This heuristic simplifies decision-making by allowing people to draw conclusions quickly, often relying on superficial similarities rather than thorough analytic reasoning. However, this can also lead to biases, as individuals may overlook relevant information that doesn't fit their prototype or stereotype, potentially resulting in inaccurate judgments. Recognizing the strength of the representativeness heuristic helps understand decision-making processes and the potential pitfalls of relying on it for complex scenarios.