Salience bias is the tendency to give disproportionate attention and weight to information that is vivid, emotionally striking, or otherwise attention-grabbing, while overlooking details that are subtle, statistical, or routine. Because our attention is a limited resource, the mind naturally prioritizes what stands out rather than what is most relevant or representative.
This matters because decisions built on the loudest evidence can badly misjudge reality, leading people to overestimate dramatic risks, misallocate resources, and ignore quiet but important factors.
After seeing extensive news coverage of a shark attack, a family cancels their beach vacation out of fear, even though the drive to the coast poses a far greater statistical risk of injury than swimming in the ocean.
