How do you make the difference between something you fear and something you suspect will be detrimental? Like, say, befriending someone who freaks you out, or entering a shady scheme?
Befriending someone who freaks me out and entering a shady scheme are both obviously stupid. If something is obviously stupid then this heuristic is overruled.
I use this heuristic only for marginal cases where my calculated expected value is equal for both options. (The net expected detriment of either choice compared to the other is zero.) Only if the previous condition is satisfied do I then check which of the two options triggers greater fear. Fear is an emotion. I imagine both futures and observe my emotional reaction.
How do you make the difference between something you fear and something you suspect will be detrimental? Like, say, befriending someone who freaks you out, or entering a shady scheme?
Befriending someone who freaks me out and entering a shady scheme are both obviously stupid. If something is obviously stupid then this heuristic is overruled.
I use this heuristic only for marginal cases where my calculated expected value is equal for both options. (The net expected detriment of either choice compared to the other is zero.) Only if the previous condition is satisfied do I then check which of the two options triggers greater fear. Fear is an emotion. I imagine both futures and observe my emotional reaction.
I think you should make this explanation part of the article. It’s crucial.