In 1974, two psychologists, Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, as the New Yorker once put it, “changed the way we think about the way we think.” Before their landmark research went viral (in the way things went viral in the 1970s), the prevailing wisdom was that human beings were, for the most part, rational optimizers always making the kinds of judgments and decisions that best maximized the potential of the outcomes under their control. This was especially true in economics at the time. The story of how they generated a paradigm shift so powerful that it reached far outside economics and psychology to change the way all of us see ourselves is a fascinating tale, one that required the invention of something this episode is all about: The Psychology of Single Questions.
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OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION OF THEY THOUGHT WE WERE RIDICULOUS
In a world where monumental achievements are rare, a riveting narrative emerges that transcends conventional norms. “They Thought We Were Ridiculous” podcast series chronicles the groundbreaking stories of a small band of rebels who defied the status quo and altered the fabric of economic and psychological thought to form the field of behavioral economics.
A collaboration between leading podcasts Opinion Science and Behavioral Grooves, the five-part series highlights the voices of Nobel laureates and unsung academic heroes who dared to challenge established norms, including Danny Kahneman, Richard Thaler, Colin Camerer, Linda Babcock, George Loewenstein, Drazen Prelec, Shlomo Benartzi, and many others.
The series takes us from the rebellious inception of behavioral economics to its integration into governmental agencies, NGOs, non-profits, and corporations worldwide. “They Thought We Were Ridiculous” spotlights real-world impact and uncovers the pivotal moments when behavioral economics found its way into the corridors of political power in the UK, the United States, and beyond. Each episode unveils profound contributions from these mavericks and reveals the uncharted territory they navigated to reshape our understanding of human behavior and decision-making.
“We hope you enjoy all five episodes in this series,” says Andy Luttrell, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychological Science at Ball State University, and host at Opinion Science. “This podcast captures the spirit of those who dared to challenge the norm and explores the future for behavioral economics.”
“Over hundreds of our collective podcast discussions with pioneers in the field, we were inspired to share their stories in podcast form so others can appreciate the magnitude of their contributions,” noted Tim Houlihan, Behavioral Grooves co-host.
Behavioral Grooves co-host Kurt Nelson, PhD, added, “This series offers insights into how a few rebels pursued their curiosities, forged alliances, and spent lots of unstructured time to birth ideas that shape the world we live in.”
“They Thought We Were Ridiculous” promises a captivating narrative beyond the academic realm. It is a testament to the power of curiosities, challenging assumptions, and reshaping our understanding of what it means to be human.
Andy Luttrell is a social psychologist trying to understand how people form strong opinions. He’s an associate professor of psychological science at Ball State University and host of the podcast Opinion Science. His original research on the psychology of moral persuasion, ambivalent attitudes, and opinions that persist over time has been published in top peer-reviewed journals.
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