Sunday, May 11, 2008

Predictably Irrational

I've been listening to a very interesting radio show lately (via podcast so I can listen whenever I want, on the run into work usually). It's "All in the Mind" on ABC Radio National and one of the coolest episodes was an interview with Dan Ariely. This is the precis:

Like it or not, you're not the beast of reason you think you are. Dan Ariely, a behavioural economist at MIT, argues that we're surprisingly and predictably irrational. Sex, freebies, expectations, placebos, price -- they all cloud our better judgment in rather sobering ways. Dan's unique research was partly inspired by a catastrophic accident which caused third degree burns to 70% of his body.

Worth having a listen to, really fascinating stuff. Here's Dan's website as well.

No comments: