This paper re-examines the inverse relationship between perceived risk and perceived benefit, proposing that people rely on affect when judging the risk and benefit of specific hazards. Two experimental studies support this proposal. Study 1 found that time pressure strengthens this inverse relationship by enhancing reliance on affect. Study 2 confirmed that altering the favorability of an item's affective evaluation changes its risk and benefit judgments. Both studies suggest that people use an 'affect heuristic' to derive risk and benefit evaluations from affective reactions to stimuli. The affect heuristic improves judgmental efficiency by using a common source for both risk and benefit assessments. The paper highlights the role of affect in decision-making, arguing that it is an essential component in many forms of judgment and decision-making. The findings support the idea that affect plays a significant role in shaping risk and benefit judgments, often leading to inverse relationships between them. The studies demonstrate that affective evaluations influence judgments, even under time pressure, and that manipulating affective impressions can systematically change risk and benefit assessments. The results suggest that affect is a key factor in decision-making, often overriding cognitive processes. The paper concludes that the affect heuristic is a crucial mechanism in judgment and decision-making, particularly in situations where cognitive resources are limited.This paper re-examines the inverse relationship between perceived risk and perceived benefit, proposing that people rely on affect when judging the risk and benefit of specific hazards. Two experimental studies support this proposal. Study 1 found that time pressure strengthens this inverse relationship by enhancing reliance on affect. Study 2 confirmed that altering the favorability of an item's affective evaluation changes its risk and benefit judgments. Both studies suggest that people use an 'affect heuristic' to derive risk and benefit evaluations from affective reactions to stimuli. The affect heuristic improves judgmental efficiency by using a common source for both risk and benefit assessments. The paper highlights the role of affect in decision-making, arguing that it is an essential component in many forms of judgment and decision-making. The findings support the idea that affect plays a significant role in shaping risk and benefit judgments, often leading to inverse relationships between them. The studies demonstrate that affective evaluations influence judgments, even under time pressure, and that manipulating affective impressions can systematically change risk and benefit assessments. The results suggest that affect is a key factor in decision-making, often overriding cognitive processes. The paper concludes that the affect heuristic is a crucial mechanism in judgment and decision-making, particularly in situations where cognitive resources are limited.