Dan Ariely, a Duke University Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics, is an expert in understanding why we don’t always act rationally. Despite facing personal challenges after a severe accident, Ariely has dedicated his career to exploring the fascinating world of irrationality.
One of the core themes of Ariely’s work contrasts the predictions of standard economic theory, which assumes rational actors, with the realities of human behavior. He delves into the reasons behind our often illogical decisions. His Coursera course, “A Beginner’s Guide to Irrational Behavior,” aims to uncover the mysteries behind our peculiar actions and thought processes. This introductory course explores how stable our preferences are, how we perceive money, how we rationalize unethical actions, what drives our motivation at work, how we practice self-control, and the impact of emotions on our behavior.
Ariely explores the intriguing questions that arise when we examine irrationality:
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Preference Stability: Are our likes and dislikes truly consistent, or are they easily swayed by external factors? Behavioral economics reveals how context and framing significantly impact our choices.
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The Psychology of Money: Is money merely a tool for transactions, or does it hold a deeper psychological significance? Ariely examines how we value and perceive money, often leading to irrational financial decisions.
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Justifying Unethical Behavior: Why do we sometimes act against our own moral codes? The course explores the cognitive biases and rationalizations that enable us to justify unethical actions.
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Motivation at Work: What truly motivates us to work effectively? Ariely delves into the power of intrinsic motivation, social norms, and the surprising ways incentives can backfire.
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Self-Control: Why is it so difficult to resist temptation? Behavioral economics offers insights into the psychological mechanisms that hinder self-control and strategies for overcoming them.
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Emotional Influence: How do emotions impact our decisions? Ariely uncovers the powerful ways emotions like fear, anger, and happiness can shape our judgments and actions.
Beyond his online course, Ariely is applying his knowledge in innovative ways at Duke University. He teaches an interdisciplinary undergraduate class where students create MOOC-like materials. He is also exploring the flipped classroom model with MBA students, using Coursera videos to spark in-depth discussions.
For those looking to delve deeper into the world of irrationality, Ariely’s book bundle provides further insights. This bundle is not required for the course but offers valuable perspectives on the topics covered.
The bundle is available on:
Discover why we make seemingly illogical decisions and gain a deeper understanding of human behavior by enrolling in the course.
