Mere Exposure Effect

TOO MUCH INFOSYSTEM 1Primacy of Availability and Repetition

Visual Metaphor

Definition

The psychological phenomenon by which people tend to develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them. In evolutionary terms, 'familiar' implies 'safe'.

Underlying Mechanism

Familiarity Heuristic

Observable Markers

I prefer
It's familiar
I know this
I've seen this before

Examples

I prefer brands I've seen advertised
Familiar faces seem more trustworthy

Insight

Notice: preference may be based on familiarity rather than quality. Consider evaluating options objectively.

Visual analysis of Mere Exposure Effect cognitive bias showing TOO MUCH INFO domain patterns — Unlock advanced bias analysis tools and comprehensive cognitive insights with Premium

Related Biases

Illusory Truth Effect

The tendency to believe false information to be correct after repeated exposure. Repetition increases processing fluency, which the brain misinterprets as a signal of truthfulness.

7-Layer Framework Associations

Layer 2Layer 7

Research Notes

Application: Brand recognition and advertising optimization.

Literal Visualization

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