We have discussed the conjunction fallacy in Linda’s problem. While there are no two opinions on the notion that it is a fallacy, let’s explore why this is so normal to people. Before that, what is Linda’s problem? It is a common fallacy when people fall into the trap of selecting rare events which fit their existing stereotypes among options that include more probability. For example, people are happy to conclude that Linda is a banker and feminist versus just a banker once they hear the description that she is single, a fighter for social justice, etc.
More information supports arguments. Mathematically, AND between two statements signifies a joint occurrence, which is smaller (or equal at the maximum) than the smallest of probabilities. But it is perfectly normal for real humans to add more details and facts if we want to prove something. So, when they see multiple statements separated by an AND, they get a feeling for the validity of the statement. And if one of the statements fits their pre-existing notion, it becomes even more convincing.
