The Anecdotal Evidence fallacy occurs when a conclusion is drawn about a population based on a single story or too few examples, often influencing people more than statistical facts.
While reasonable statistical evidence supports a general claim, the anecdote presented as an exception can lead to the rejection of that claim, illustrating how personal stories can overshadow data.
People are often swayed by compelling stories, causing them to believe that anecdotal accounts reflect broader realities, and sometimes even dismissing valid statistical evidence that contradicts their beliefs.
This fallacy is not just about poor reasoning; it also exposes a psychological inclination where individuals prefer believing an anecdote over statistical truth due to wishful thinking.
Collection
[
|
...
]