We're All Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely

Dan Ariely, a professor of behavioral economics at Duke University, presents examples of cognitive illusions that help illustrate why humans make predictably irrational decisions.

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Dan Ariely is the Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Behavioral Economics at MIT Sloan School of Management. He also holds an appointment at the MIT Media Lab where he is the head of the eRationality research group. He is considered to be one of the leading behavioral economists. Currently, Ariely is serving as a Visiting Professor at the Duke University, Fuqua School of Business where he is teaching a course based upon his findings in Predictably Irrational.

Ariely was an undergraduate at Tel Aviv University and received a Ph.D. and M.A. in cognitive psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Ph.D. in business from Duke University. His research focuses on discovering and measuring how people make decisions. He models the human decision making process and in particular the irrational decisions that we all make every day.

Ariely is the author of the book, Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, which was published on February 21, 2008 by HarperCollins.

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[DoMoreGoodDeeds]

Okay, this was totally unexpected. I stumbled across this video by way of Philip Zimbardo, "why do people do bad", excellent video btw.

Anyway, what an AWESOME video, I really enjoyed it. Actually I loved it! And I will find a way to incorporate this teachings/ learnings into my research, Can you influence people to do good, when there is no money (power, status) to be made?

Thank you Dan Ariely for such a fine piece of work! You will be well remembered :0)

[R0CKFACE]

I rap about this stuff. peace out

[louis229]

Wicked video mate, this makes a lot of sense.

[VictorLepanto]

@DSBrekus: Once again, go find the book The Wisdom of Crowds, it is precisely about how we as humans think in a collect way & perceive more through a kind collective in intelligence. Ever hear that "two heads are better then one?" How about 7 billion? How we interact w/. others helps us collectively come closer to the truth.

[DSBrekus]

@VictorLepanto The fact that there are rational evolutionary reasons for these behaviours doesn't make them any less irrational. Also I would challenge the claim that they are all necessary, many are simply wasteful and short-sighted with no gain for anyone.

[CrusstyJugglers]

Just bought his book, Predictably Irrational. I highly recommend it.

[SWLinPHX]

Damn, are we just sheep?!?

[VictorLepanto]

@spartonne: It was something of a cheat. The square perceived as being a lighter shade of yellow was in a shadow on the apparent side of the cube. We see the square standing out brighter then the surrounding squares & thus perceive it as lighter then the squares surrounding it. It was in fact lighter then them.

[VictorLepanto]

These pattern of influence are NOT irrational. They are necessary for us in living collectively w/ other human beings. I good book to read on this subject is the wisdom of crowds. We rely on cues to acquire information that would not be available to us otherwise. We as human beings engage in a kind of collective consciousness & thinking.

[BareFool]

@Anon371 and 100% of humans believe they're in that 2%... :D

[BareFool]

hah! Now I gotta get studying further into this and see how I can apply it to making my enemies commit suicide... :D