Linda is thirty-one years old, single, outspoken, and very…
““Linda is thirty-one years old, single, outspoken, and very bright. She majored in philosophy. As a student she was deeply concerned with issues of discrimination and social justice and also participated in anti-nuclear demonstrations. Which of two alternatives is more probable? A. Linda is a bank teller. B. Linda is a bank teller and is active in the feminist movement.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The Linda problem illustrates how vivid narratives can bias probability judgments.
In simple terms: Stories skew logical reasoning about likelihood.
Beware of narrative bias in decisions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- statistics
- critical thinking
- psychology
- law
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does narrative affect your judgments?
- What steps improve logical assessment?
Statistical reasoning can be overridden by emotion.