Concept · Cognitive Bias: Decision-making and judgment biases
Fluency heuristic
Origin: Schooler & Hertwig, 2005
Biological Parallel
Processing fluency signals pattern repetition—the neural grooves carved by prior encounters. When a wolf recognizes its pack's howl instantly, fluent processing means 'safe.' Disfluent processing (unfamiliar howl) signals 'unknown pack, potential threat.' Smooth recognition evolved to distinguish kin from stranger, edible from toxic, home territory from foreign ground. Your brain treats cognitive ease as evidence of truth because fluency meant familiarity meant safety.