783 Upside of Irrationality

We all like to think that we approach important decisions in a calm, rational manner. It turns out, though, that the reality is both messier and more interesting. Behavioral economist Dan Ariely, PhD, has been studying what people do when faced with a choice, and has found most of us are not so rational after all.
We discuss how the ability of humans to adapt can influence how we might undertake difficult or painful tasks, and how previous experience with pain alters our pain thresholds. How does irrational behavior play out in the field of health care?
Guest: Dan Ariely, PhD, is the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University, with appointments at the Fuqua School of Business, the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, the Department of Economics, and the School of Medicine. He earned two PhDs, one in Cognitive Psychology and one in Business Administration.
Dan Ariely is the author of Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, and his latest book is The Upside of Irrationality: The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home. His website is danariely.com
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