Heuristic Cue

A heuristic cue is anything we encounter in our environment that leads us to use a mental shortcut or “rule of thumb” when making a judgment or decision. These cues tend to be based on experience or common sense and their use is meant to save time and reduce demands for thinking, but they can lead to bias and stereotyping.

For example, when deciding between two political candidates in an election, you may choose to vote for the one affiliated with your preferred party, without researching their individual views or background.

See also: Heuristic