Predictable Irrational

by | Jul 14, 2008 | Research

Here is an excerpt from John Tierney discussing experiments described in Dan Ariely’s new book, Predictably Irrational. In a series of experiments, hundreds of students could not bear to let their options vanish . . . .They played a computer game that paid real...

Perception of the size of a golf hole

by | Jul 14, 2008 | Uncategorized

Here is an excerpt from PsyBlog discussing how perception is affected. Our lab is currently doing research on how fear can affect perception.Jessica K. Witt, an assistant professor at Purdue University, found that golfers who play well are more likely to actually see...

Affective Forecasting vs. Cognitive Dissonance

by | Jul 9, 2008 | Uncategorized

Here is an excerpt from an article describing an interview with Steven Pinker. Of note, is how Pinker paid attention to our deficits in affective forecasting (our ability to predict our future happiness) and forgot to pay attention to cognitive dissonance (how we tend...

Cognitive Dissonance and On the Other Hand

by | Jul 6, 2008 | Uncategorized

Here is a portion of an entry written by Scott Adams on how people may have individual differences on the amount of cognitive dissonance that they can handle. Recently I saw the best case of cognitive dissonance I have ever seen. It was on Bill Maher’s show,...