What term describes the mental shortcuts people use in decision-making?

The term that describes the mental shortcuts people use in decision-making is heuristics. Heuristics are simple rules or strategies that help individuals make judgments and decisions quickly and efficiently, often relying on immediate perceptions or prior experiences. These mental shortcuts are particularly useful in situations where time is critical or when one has limited information, allowing for rapid conclusions without the need for extensive analysis.

Cognitive biases, while related, refer to systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment, often resulting from the use of heuristics. Logical frameworks focus on structured approaches to reasoning and problem-solving, which are typically more analytical. Social algorithms might refer to predictive models used in social contexts but do not encapsulate the broad, intuitive decision-making processes described by heuristics. Thus, heuristics specifically captures the essence of the mental shortcuts that facilitate faster decision-making.