Why are we so vulnerable to misinformation?

How do we make better choices?

Do we react to the immediacy of information or the quality of that information?

Turns out, immediacy carries the day.  Worse yet, if that misinformation confirms our previously held biases or beliefs, we are even more susceptible to its influence.

It all has to do with Nudge Theory; a breakthrough in Behavioral Economics that was based on the pioneering research of  two Israeli psychologists:  Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky in the 1970's that examined why people make the choices that they do.

Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein developed the human bahevior patterns discovered by Kahneman and Tversky and formed them into a cohesive theory that attempts to explain human decision making in a more complete way than other theories of choice-making.

In 2017, Richard Thaler won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for Nudge Theory.

Let's look at how we can use the best of what Nudge Theory has to offer to make sure we protect ourselves from misinformation and make the decisions that enhance the quality of our lives.

Where to learn more:

Thaler, Richard H. 2018. "From Cashews to Nudges: The Evolution of Behavioral Economics." American Economic Review,  108 (6): 1265-87.