Decisions Big and Small: The Cognitive Science of Making Up Your Mind

Harvard FAS

Life is full of decisions, but not all decisions are made equal. Choices can be big and consequential (should I focus on my success, family, or passion), or small and everyday (going out, or staying in). This course will introduce you to the cognitive science of judging and choosing. You will learn about 1) Rational planning, the kind a perfect intelligence might carry out 2) Common simplifications and shortcuts that non-perfect humans use, and how these may actually be appealing…