What is amazing to me is how little evidence we have to support any side of this debate and yet how certain each person is in his position.
Maybe what we need is research directed at the beliefs that drive our political system and convictions.
Hi, I’m Dan Ariely. I do research in behavioral economics and try to describe it in plain language. These findings have enriched my life, and my hope is that they will do the same for you.
The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone - Especially Ourselves
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The Upside of Irrationality, explores some positive and some negative ways that irrationality plays out in our lives.
When we make decisions we think we're in control. But are we?
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A Senior at an Ohio high school said following their prom they had a lock-in. Students surrendered their keys when they entered the prom and had them returned at 4 in the morning when they presumably went out for breakfast. Anyone wanting to leave earlier could only go with a phone call and permissiopn from home.
Enjoyed the book, but found one idea incompatible with my experiences. The book shows clear evidence that people rate more highly an experience that has been touted more highly. In other words, expectations determine the perception. Unfortunately my experience has been the opposite. If my expectations are high, I often experience diappointment be it a book, a restaurant meal or some other ” must.” Why is that?
I enjoyed the book, but I have a strong suspicion that marketeers figured this all out at least 50 years ago, maybe even earlier. I recall a book, “The Hidden Persuaders” by Vance Packard that came out in the 50′s. Are the mainstream economists really that far behind?
And, what are the marketeers up to now? I notice that even though we are in a recession, if not a depression, and finally the middle class has stopped its buying spree, they are still advertising high end luxury cars for the young, rich and testosterone-loaded set. The world according to TV is still for carefree impulse buyers searching for (and getting) gratification. And what on earth is the appeal of the two bathtubs side by side out in a country field?