Comments on: NYT Year In Ideas

By: Counterfeiting and the Butterfly Effect

Counterfeiting and the Butterfly Effect — Fri, 21 May 2010 21:17:14 +0000

[...] on topof a coarse arm hair, a counterfeit in your life will change your outcomes. As you recall the ground-breaking research of Dan Ariely andhis colleagues that demonstrated how wearing fakes makes a person less likelyto [...]

By: Tasmijn

Tasmijn — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:56:20 +0000

It seems that sunglasses in general are evil!

http://www.physorg.com/news186669983.html

”
New research in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, shows that darkness may also induce a psychological feeling of illusory anonymity, just as children playing “hide and seek” will close their eyes and believe that other cannot see them, the experience of darkness, even one as subtle as wearing a pair of sunglasses, triggers the belief that we are warded from others’ attention and inspections.
“

By: Small decisions, fake sun-glasses and celebrating contradictions « The Comparative Advantage

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:08:40 +0000

[...] I read this post describing a very intriguing [...]

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:52:01 +0000

Regarding the Ultimatum Game: It seems that there’s a third explanation for turning down a small amount, that it’s rational to not want to worsen your situation relative to the other person.

Assume you and the other person are relatively equal players in local markets. Also, assume that those markets are small, as they have been for most of humanity for most of history. If you accept an amount while allowing one of your competitors to acquire 5-99 times that amount, you’ve dramatically worsened your bargaining situation relative to your competitor.

At some level (perhaps 30% ?), you perhaps can increase your position with regards to other competitors enough to make the decreased position relative to the one competitor worthwhile.

The “rational” explanation assumes that it’s always better to gain a dollar than not gain a dollar. But, if gaining the dollar means your competitors gain even more dollars, then your relative situation has worsened, not improved. It would be irrational to take the dollar.

By: Mike Fuji

Mike Fuji — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:19:22 +0000

You leave out whether the 2nd player is aware that by declining the offer of money in the 2nd experiment that neither player will get any money. I was inclined to assume that they had been instructed since revenge was pointed to as the reasoning. So then has the 2nd player been told just this but the opportunity for the game to continue has been left open?

By: ella

ella — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:08:42 +0000

Thanks for your sharing.so wonderful!wish you have a lovely day and Happy New Year. Hot sale MBTs Cheap MBT shoes

By: Don Don

Don Don — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:41:53 +0000

I’m wondering if the “ultimatum game” has any relevance to sales commission to contractors…

Thanks.

By: Alice

Alice — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:42:50 +0000

Your counterfeit self reminds me of one of my students who told me last year that I would look much younger if I died my hair. And I replied, “but I wouldn’t BE much younger.”

By: Gary

Gary — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:01:30 +0000

Your research into the foibles and contradictions in human behaviour is enlightening and funny..I always enjoy reading it.Thank you for the insight.

By: hal sandick

hal sandick — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:03:53 +0000

Dan,

I have seen a new “arming the donkeys” podcast in a while. Have you stopped making these?

hal sandick