Behavioral economics : what it is and how it could help us do our job betterDigitasLBi Paris
From forms to porn banners, how behavioral economics can optimize user experience?
by DigitasLBi strategic planning
Des formulaires aux bannières porno: comment l'économie comportementale peut optimiser l'exp. utilisateur - par les planneurs de DigitasLBi
A review of the behavioral economics concept of the paradox of choice where some choice is good, but too much choice creates paralysis and dissatisfaction
The Economics of Patience: The endogenous determination of time preferenceRussell James
This presentation reviews an economic model by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary Becker and Casey Mulligan incorporating the idea of imagination in time preference.
Behavioral economics : what it is and how it could help us do our job betterDigitasLBi Paris
From forms to porn banners, how behavioral economics can optimize user experience?
by DigitasLBi strategic planning
Des formulaires aux bannières porno: comment l'économie comportementale peut optimiser l'exp. utilisateur - par les planneurs de DigitasLBi
A review of the behavioral economics concept of the paradox of choice where some choice is good, but too much choice creates paralysis and dissatisfaction
The Economics of Patience: The endogenous determination of time preferenceRussell James
This presentation reviews an economic model by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary Becker and Casey Mulligan incorporating the idea of imagination in time preference.
Julius Caesar Essays. Julius Caesar Essay Essay on Julius Caesar for Student...Sarah Jones
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Argumentative Essay On Organ Donation
Argumentative Essay On Suicide
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The Art of Argumentation
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Seminar of U.V. Spectroscopy by SAMIR PANDASAMIR PANDA
Spectroscopy is a branch of science dealing the study of interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter.
Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy refers to absorption spectroscopy or reflect spectroscopy in the UV-VIS spectral region.
Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy is an analytical method that can measure the amount of light received by the analyte.
Introduction:
RNA interference (RNAi) or Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS) is an important biological process for modulating eukaryotic gene expression.
It is highly conserved process of posttranscriptional gene silencing by which double stranded RNA (dsRNA) causes sequence-specific degradation of mRNA sequences.
dsRNA-induced gene silencing (RNAi) is reported in a wide range of eukaryotes ranging from worms, insects, mammals and plants.
This process mediates resistance to both endogenous parasitic and exogenous pathogenic nucleic acids, and regulates the expression of protein-coding genes.
What are small ncRNAs?
micro RNA (miRNA)
short interfering RNA (siRNA)
Properties of small non-coding RNA:
Involved in silencing mRNA transcripts.
Called “small” because they are usually only about 21-24 nucleotides long.
Synthesized by first cutting up longer precursor sequences (like the 61nt one that Lee discovered).
Silence an mRNA by base pairing with some sequence on the mRNA.
Discovery of siRNA?
The first small RNA:
In 1993 Rosalind Lee (Victor Ambros lab) was studying a non- coding gene in C. elegans, lin-4, that was involved in silencing of another gene, lin-14, at the appropriate time in the
development of the worm C. elegans.
Two small transcripts of lin-4 (22nt and 61nt) were found to be complementary to a sequence in the 3' UTR of lin-14.
Because lin-4 encoded no protein, she deduced that it must be these transcripts that are causing the silencing by RNA-RNA interactions.
Types of RNAi ( non coding RNA)
MiRNA
Length (23-25 nt)
Trans acting
Binds with target MRNA in mismatch
Translation inhibition
Si RNA
Length 21 nt.
Cis acting
Bind with target Mrna in perfect complementary sequence
Piwi-RNA
Length ; 25 to 36 nt.
Expressed in Germ Cells
Regulates trnasposomes activity
MECHANISM OF RNAI:
First the double-stranded RNA teams up with a protein complex named Dicer, which cuts the long RNA into short pieces.
Then another protein complex called RISC (RNA-induced silencing complex) discards one of the two RNA strands.
The RISC-docked, single-stranded RNA then pairs with the homologous mRNA and destroys it.
THE RISC COMPLEX:
RISC is large(>500kD) RNA multi- protein Binding complex which triggers MRNA degradation in response to MRNA
Unwinding of double stranded Si RNA by ATP independent Helicase
Active component of RISC is Ago proteins( ENDONUCLEASE) which cleave target MRNA.
DICER: endonuclease (RNase Family III)
Argonaute: Central Component of the RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC)
One strand of the dsRNA produced by Dicer is retained in the RISC complex in association with Argonaute
ARGONAUTE PROTEIN :
1.PAZ(PIWI/Argonaute/ Zwille)- Recognition of target MRNA
2.PIWI (p-element induced wimpy Testis)- breaks Phosphodiester bond of mRNA.)RNAse H activity.
MiRNA:
The Double-stranded RNAs are naturally produced in eukaryotic cells during development, and they have a key role in regulating gene expression .
This pdf is about the Schizophrenia.
For more details visit on YouTube; @SELF-EXPLANATORY;
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiarMZDNhe1A3Rnpr_WkzA/videos
Thanks...!
Richard's aventures in two entangled wonderlandsRichard Gill
Since the loophole-free Bell experiments of 2020 and the Nobel prizes in physics of 2022, critics of Bell's work have retreated to the fortress of super-determinism. Now, super-determinism is a derogatory word - it just means "determinism". Palmer, Hance and Hossenfelder argue that quantum mechanics and determinism are not incompatible, using a sophisticated mathematical construction based on a subtle thinning of allowed states and measurements in quantum mechanics, such that what is left appears to make Bell's argument fail, without altering the empirical predictions of quantum mechanics. I think however that it is a smoke screen, and the slogan "lost in math" comes to my mind. I will discuss some other recent disproofs of Bell's theorem using the language of causality based on causal graphs. Causal thinking is also central to law and justice. I will mention surprising connections to my work on serial killer nurse cases, in particular the Dutch case of Lucia de Berk and the current UK case of Lucy Letby.
Earliest Galaxies in the JADES Origins Field: Luminosity Function and Cosmic ...Sérgio Sacani
We characterize the earliest galaxy population in the JADES Origins Field (JOF), the deepest
imaging field observed with JWST. We make use of the ancillary Hubble optical images (5 filters
spanning 0.4−0.9µm) and novel JWST images with 14 filters spanning 0.8−5µm, including 7 mediumband filters, and reaching total exposure times of up to 46 hours per filter. We combine all our data
at > 2.3µm to construct an ultradeep image, reaching as deep as ≈ 31.4 AB mag in the stack and
30.3-31.0 AB mag (5σ, r = 0.1” circular aperture) in individual filters. We measure photometric
redshifts and use robust selection criteria to identify a sample of eight galaxy candidates at redshifts
z = 11.5 − 15. These objects show compact half-light radii of R1/2 ∼ 50 − 200pc, stellar masses of
M⋆ ∼ 107−108M⊙, and star-formation rates of SFR ∼ 0.1−1 M⊙ yr−1
. Our search finds no candidates
at 15 < z < 20, placing upper limits at these redshifts. We develop a forward modeling approach to
infer the properties of the evolving luminosity function without binning in redshift or luminosity that
marginalizes over the photometric redshift uncertainty of our candidate galaxies and incorporates the
impact of non-detections. We find a z = 12 luminosity function in good agreement with prior results,
and that the luminosity function normalization and UV luminosity density decline by a factor of ∼ 2.5
from z = 12 to z = 14. We discuss the possible implications of our results in the context of theoretical
models for evolution of the dark matter halo mass function.
Slide 1: Title Slide
Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Slide 2: Introduction to Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Definition: Extrachromosomal inheritance refers to the transmission of genetic material that is not found within the nucleus.
Key Components: Involves genes located in mitochondria, chloroplasts, and plasmids.
Slide 3: Mitochondrial Inheritance
Mitochondria: Organelles responsible for energy production.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): Circular DNA molecule found in mitochondria.
Inheritance Pattern: Maternally inherited, meaning it is passed from mothers to all their offspring.
Diseases: Examples include Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and mitochondrial myopathy.
Slide 4: Chloroplast Inheritance
Chloroplasts: Organelles responsible for photosynthesis in plants.
Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA): Circular DNA molecule found in chloroplasts.
Inheritance Pattern: Often maternally inherited in most plants, but can vary in some species.
Examples: Variegation in plants, where leaf color patterns are determined by chloroplast DNA.
Slide 5: Plasmid Inheritance
Plasmids: Small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria and some eukaryotes.
Features: Can carry antibiotic resistance genes and can be transferred between cells through processes like conjugation.
Significance: Important in biotechnology for gene cloning and genetic engineering.
Slide 6: Mechanisms of Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Non-Mendelian Patterns: Do not follow Mendel’s laws of inheritance.
Cytoplasmic Segregation: During cell division, organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts are randomly distributed to daughter cells.
Heteroplasmy: Presence of more than one type of organellar genome within a cell, leading to variation in expression.
Slide 7: Examples of Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Four O’clock Plant (Mirabilis jalapa): Shows variegated leaves due to different cpDNA in leaf cells.
Petite Mutants in Yeast: Result from mutations in mitochondrial DNA affecting respiration.
Slide 8: Importance of Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Evolution: Provides insight into the evolution of eukaryotic cells.
Medicine: Understanding mitochondrial inheritance helps in diagnosing and treating mitochondrial diseases.
Agriculture: Chloroplast inheritance can be used in plant breeding and genetic modification.
Slide 9: Recent Research and Advances
Gene Editing: Techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 are being used to edit mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA.
Therapies: Development of mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) for preventing mitochondrial diseases.
Slide 10: Conclusion
Summary: Extrachromosomal inheritance involves the transmission of genetic material outside the nucleus and plays a crucial role in genetics, medicine, and biotechnology.
Future Directions: Continued research and technological advancements hold promise for new treatments and applications.
Slide 11: Questions and Discussion
Invite Audience: Open the floor for any questions or further discussion on the topic.
(May 29th, 2024) Advancements in Intravital Microscopy- Insights for Preclini...Scintica Instrumentation
Intravital microscopy (IVM) is a powerful tool utilized to study cellular behavior over time and space in vivo. Much of our understanding of cell biology has been accomplished using various in vitro and ex vivo methods; however, these studies do not necessarily reflect the natural dynamics of biological processes. Unlike traditional cell culture or fixed tissue imaging, IVM allows for the ultra-fast high-resolution imaging of cellular processes over time and space and were studied in its natural environment. Real-time visualization of biological processes in the context of an intact organism helps maintain physiological relevance and provide insights into the progression of disease, response to treatments or developmental processes.
In this webinar we give an overview of advanced applications of the IVM system in preclinical research. IVIM technology is a provider of all-in-one intravital microscopy systems and solutions optimized for in vivo imaging of live animal models at sub-micron resolution. The system’s unique features and user-friendly software enables researchers to probe fast dynamic biological processes such as immune cell tracking, cell-cell interaction as well as vascularization and tumor metastasis with exceptional detail. This webinar will also give an overview of IVM being utilized in drug development, offering a view into the intricate interaction between drugs/nanoparticles and tissues in vivo and allows for the evaluation of therapeutic intervention in a variety of tissues and organs. This interdisciplinary collaboration continues to drive the advancements of novel therapeutic strategies.
Observation of Io’s Resurfacing via Plume Deposition Using Ground-based Adapt...Sérgio Sacani
Since volcanic activity was first discovered on Io from Voyager images in 1979, changes
on Io’s surface have been monitored from both spacecraft and ground-based telescopes.
Here, we present the highest spatial resolution images of Io ever obtained from a groundbased telescope. These images, acquired by the SHARK-VIS instrument on the Large
Binocular Telescope, show evidence of a major resurfacing event on Io’s trailing hemisphere. When compared to the most recent spacecraft images, the SHARK-VIS images
show that a plume deposit from a powerful eruption at Pillan Patera has covered part
of the long-lived Pele plume deposit. Although this type of resurfacing event may be common on Io, few have been detected due to the rarity of spacecraft visits and the previously low spatial resolution available from Earth-based telescopes. The SHARK-VIS instrument ushers in a new era of high resolution imaging of Io’s surface using adaptive
optics at visible wavelengths.
Cancer cell metabolism: special Reference to Lactate PathwayAADYARAJPANDEY1
Normal Cell Metabolism:
Cellular respiration describes the series of steps that cells use to break down sugar and other chemicals to get the energy we need to function.
Energy is stored in the bonds of glucose and when glucose is broken down, much of that energy is released.
Cell utilize energy in the form of ATP.
The first step of respiration is called glycolysis. In a series of steps, glycolysis breaks glucose into two smaller molecules - a chemical called pyruvate. A small amount of ATP is formed during this process.
Most healthy cells continue the breakdown in a second process, called the Kreb's cycle. The Kreb's cycle allows cells to “burn” the pyruvates made in glycolysis to get more ATP.
The last step in the breakdown of glucose is called oxidative phosphorylation (Ox-Phos).
It takes place in specialized cell structures called mitochondria. This process produces a large amount of ATP. Importantly, cells need oxygen to complete oxidative phosphorylation.
If a cell completes only glycolysis, only 2 molecules of ATP are made per glucose. However, if the cell completes the entire respiration process (glycolysis - Kreb's - oxidative phosphorylation), about 36 molecules of ATP are created, giving it much more energy to use.
IN CANCER CELL:
Unlike healthy cells that "burn" the entire molecule of sugar to capture a large amount of energy as ATP, cancer cells are wasteful.
Cancer cells only partially break down sugar molecules. They overuse the first step of respiration, glycolysis. They frequently do not complete the second step, oxidative phosphorylation.
This results in only 2 molecules of ATP per each glucose molecule instead of the 36 or so ATPs healthy cells gain. As a result, cancer cells need to use a lot more sugar molecules to get enough energy to survive.
Unlike healthy cells that "burn" the entire molecule of sugar to capture a large amount of energy as ATP, cancer cells are wasteful.
Cancer cells only partially break down sugar molecules. They overuse the first step of respiration, glycolysis. They frequently do not complete the second step, oxidative phosphorylation.
This results in only 2 molecules of ATP per each glucose molecule instead of the 36 or so ATPs healthy cells gain. As a result, cancer cells need to use a lot more sugar molecules to get enough energy to survive.
introduction to WARBERG PHENOMENA:
WARBURG EFFECT Usually, cancer cells are highly glycolytic (glucose addiction) and take up more glucose than do normal cells from outside.
Otto Heinrich Warburg (; 8 October 1883 – 1 August 1970) In 1931 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology for his "discovery of the nature and mode of action of the respiratory enzyme.
WARNBURG EFFECT : cancer cells under aerobic (well-oxygenated) conditions to metabolize glucose to lactate (aerobic glycolysis) is known as the Warburg effect. Warburg made the observation that tumor slices consume glucose and secrete lactate at a higher rate than normal tissues.
2. O Behave! One Year On 3
How Obama Nudged Us to Vote 4
Bias of the Month 5
Could a Necklace Change Your Behaviour? 6
When One is More Powerful than Many 7
Your Personality: Fixed or Flexible? 8
Nudgestock 3: Richard Thaler 9
Real Life Nudge of the Month 10
Upcoming Events 10
CONTENTS
3. It’s now been one year since we first published O Behave!,
launching with our Kahneman edition. In the last year, we’ve
published twelve issues and had over fifty thousand views –
and Daniel Kahneman has gone from our cover star to judge
of our Nudge Awards!
O BEHAVE! ONE YEAR ON
We hope you’ve enjoyed and will continue to enjoy
our monthly round-up of interesting new research in
behavioural science, and we want to hear from you!
Is there anything we should do more or less of? Are
there any particular topics you’d like us to cover? You
can leave feedback for us anonymously here.
Best wishes,
Ciosa and Juliet
4. HOW OBAMA NUDGED US TO VOTE
With the General Election only around the corner, it made us wonder whether any of the parties had used behavioural
economics to nudge us to vote for them. If they wanted a masterclass in how to do this, all they needed to do was look at
Obama’s 2012 campaign which had behavioural economics at its core. Obama hired some of the worlds leading
behavioural economists such as Richard Thaler, Robert Cialdini and Craig Fox and developed what became known as the
“Consortium of Behavioural Scientists (COBS)”. This team of behavioural scientists offered crucial input into the campaign
and even helped create scripts for Obama’s speeches. Here are a few examples of how they used insights from the
behavioural sciences to not only get Americans to vote, but to get them to vote Democrat.
Make salient one’s self-identity as a voter
We have multiple “selves” and “identities” and each self/identity can be more salient at different times. We also have a
constancy bias, where we want to act consistently with our identity. If we do not, we feel a discomfort known as cognitive
dissonance which occurs when we behave (or don’t behave) in a way that is contrary to our beliefs. It is a state we all try to
avoid. When Obama campaigners knocked on doors, they would open by saying, “Mr Clarke, we know you have voted in
the past.” This reminds them of and reaffirms their identity as a voter, which in turn increases the likelihood they will vote.
Get people to make a commitment to vote
Another strand of our consistency bias is our commitment bias where we want to
act in accordance to commitments we made, especially those made publicly, which
makes us more likely to engage in the behaviour. Obama used this insight and
asked voters to sign an informal commitment card saying they would vote.
Falsifying rumours
Slandering and making up lies about other candidates is commonly found in
political campaigns. After conducting much research the COBS found the best way
to falsify rumours was not to state the misinformation and then follow it up with the
correct information. For example, instead of “Obama is not a Muslim, he is a
Christian”, say “Obama is a Christian”. Due to our repetition bias, the more we hear
something the more we think it is likely to be true. We also don’t remember full
sentences but associations like “Obama-Muslim”, which they were keen to avoid.
Carey, B. (2012). Academic ‘Dream Team’ helped Obama’s effort. The New York Times.
5. BIAS OF THE MONTH
The Pain of Paying
Throughout our daily lives we need to part with our hard-earned cash regularly. This is a painful task and something
we would all love to avoid, but of course we can’t. It is so painful to us that fMRI studies have shown that the same
areas in our brain that are associated with disgust and physical pain are also active when we spend money.
What is really interesting about this bias is that this “pain of paying” is mediated by how observable or transparent the
payment actually is. The more tangible the act of paying for something is, the less we do it. Cash is the most tangible
form of payment there is as when we hand over the notes and coins, we can see and feel them. On the other hand
contactless payment cards and credit cards are probably the least tangible as it is a piece of plastic and therefore
people consume more when using them. Research has found that the brain areas associated with “the pain of paying”
when people pay with cash are effectively deactivated with one pays with a card. Paying with contactless cards and
credit cards can also be a very quick behaviour and the payment can be over and done with before we know it.
A study in two major apartment complexes in the States found that people
spent less on laundry when their machine accepted coins than they paid with
a pre-paid card. Similarly, in another experiment it was found that when
asked to bid on a pair of tickets to a sports event, those who were told they
would be paying by credit card bid significantly more than those who were
told they would be paying with cash. All these findings provide a solid
explanation of why so many people rack up large amounts of credit card debt:
If I am paying with a piece of plastic, I am not really parting with my tangible
money.
These studies go to show that if you want to start saving and stop using so
much money, take money out of a cash machine every week and don’t let
yourself pay with your cards. On the other hand, if you are a retailer and want
to increase sales, one way to do it would be to ban cash payments.
Soman, D. (2003). The effect of payment transparency on consumption: Quasi-experiments from the field. Marketing Letters, 14(3),173-183.
6. Guéguen, N., Bougeard-Delfosse, C., & Jacob, C. (2015). The Positive Effect of the Mere Presence of a Religious Symbol on Compliance With an Organ Donation
Request. Social Marketing Quarterly, in press.
As we go through our daily life, our behaviour is constantly being influenced by subconscious cues or “primes” in our
environment. Research into priming has shown every element of our surrounding can influence our behaviour, such as
smells, pictures, colours, words and so on. For example, Litjenquist et al. (2010) found that citrus scents encourage
generous behaviour, Fitzsimons et al. (2008) found that Apple’s logo can make you more creative than IBM’s logo, and
Latu et al. (2013) found that exposing women to pictures of powerful female roles models can make them better public
speakers. All these examples clearly show that primes can influence our behaviour but the research is still developing.
COULD A NECKLACE CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOUR?
The latest research in priming released this month comes from
Guéguen, Bougeard-Delfosse and Jacob (2015), who found that the
presence of a religious symbol increased people’s willingness to
accept an organ donation card. During a field study in France,
results showed that when a solicitor wearing a Christian cross asked
people to accept an organ donation card, they were significantly
more likely to do so than when the same solicitor was not wearing
the cross. This effect was found for both males and females.
The researchers suggest that the prime of the Christian cross may
have activated concepts associated with religion such as
compassion, support or solidarity. These in turn led the participants
to look upon the request of the solicitor to become an organ donator
with a more ‘Christian’ attitude and accept. So next time you are
trying to influence someone's behaviour, don’t forget to take your
jewellery into consideration.
7. WHEN ONE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN MANY
The biggest global news story of the last month has been the devastating earthquake in Nepal on the 25th April, claiming
the lives of over 6,000 people and injuring over 11,000 more. This has triggered a swathe of international appeals to
provide relief to the area, and millions of pounds have already been raised, but could we be doing more?
One mental bias that might reduce people’s motivation to donate is psychic numbing,
which occurs when the scale of a problem is so large as to be incomprehensible to
us (Slovic, 2007). When we think of the thousands affected by the earthquake, it is
hard to put that number into perspective, understand what it means and empathise
with all of those victims. The reverse of this is the identifiable victim effect, where
people are able to relate to the story of one individual, and are therefore more likely
to act. Small, Loewenstein and Slovic (2007) compared donations from participants
who were given the story and photograph of Roka, a child at risk of starvation in Mali,
with those who were given the information that food shortages in Mali were affecting
3 million children. The donations generated from Roka’s story were roughly double
that from the statistics, but – worryingly – the donations from participants who had
received both the story and the statistics were also reduced relative to the story only
condition. This might counterintuitively suggest that, instead of reporting on the scale
of the problem, those aiming to maximise donations to a cause should mention only
one person in their appeal. Further research shows that people would rather donate
to one child than eight; and that our ability to empathise can even be reduced when
the number of children goes from one to two.
An example of this effect in action is the public’s response to Stephen Sutton, the teenager whose story of battling cancer
captured the nation, and who has now raised over £4.5million for the Teenage Cancer Trust, with his mother continuing
to fundraise after his death last year. Over 300,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer every year, an
unfathomable number; but Steven’s story was one people could relate to, resulting in donations far surpassing typical
rates.
You can donate to the Nepal earthquake appeal here.
Slovic, P. (2007). “If I look at the mass I will never act”: Psychic numbing and genocide. Judgement and Decision Making, 2 (2), 79-95.
8. YOUR PERSONALITY: FIXED OR FLEXIBLE?
Though our traits may change in certain situations – feeling less confident in new surroundings, for example – for the most
part we think of our personalities as relatively fixed, determined by our genetics and upbringing. There is some evidence to
suggest that, while we are capable of altering these ‘free traits’ of our personalities, doing so for an extended period of time
is stressful and can even lead to burn out and physical health complications.
In some preliminary work, Balsari-Palsule, PhD candidate at Cambridge, has found a correlation between ‘faking’
personalities traits and lower job satisfaction, using a personality test, work life survey and data from HR. This is particularly
strong for extraverts whose job requires them to work in a quiet environment with little interaction; this is also true of
introverts working in loud environments, but less so. There is evidence to support these effects for all of the big five
personality traits – extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and agreeableness.
Hudson, N.W., & Fraley, R.C. (2015). Volitional Personality Trait Chance: Can People Choose to Change Their Personality Traits? Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology, in press.
However, a new study by Hudson and Fraley (2015) suggests that if people want to
change their personalities, they may be able to. Participants were given personality
questionnaires and a survey to find out how, if at all, they would like their personalities
to change. Over the next 16 weeks, participants were tested again weekly, and
participants who had indicated they wanted to change a particular trait were more
likely to show that change. This was not assisted by weekly prompts to think of ways
to make the change – participants who did this were less likely to change, perhaps
due to the vague nature of their methods. In a subsequent experiment, participants
were given more specific instructions to change: both proactive, like phoning a friend
to ask them out to lunch to increase extraversion, and reactive, i.e. “if X happens, I’ll
do Y”. This created statistically significant personality change, as a result of
participants inferring a new self-concept after seeing themselves behave in a different
way. It is unclear whether these results are due to a reporting bias, and how long
these changes could last. This is the first research of its kind into volitional personality
change, and it is not yet clear whether this can be replicated, or whether there are
similar negative effects as found for changing ones traits in the workplace. It may
have opposite effects if people actively dislike a specific personality trait, so changing
it improves self-esteem, instead of changing just to please others.
9. RICHARD THALER
Nudgestock 3 is creeping up on us with only six weeks to go. For those of
you who still don’t have tickets but would like to come, there a few left that
you can find here. We have a stellar line up for the day, particularly one of our
headliners – a founding father of Nudge, Richard Thaler.
Richard Thaler is Professor of Behavioural Science and Economics at the
University of Chicago Booth School of Business and has an extremely
impressive C.V. to his name. Not only does he have countless publications in
the field of behavioural economics and decision making, but has also advised
Barack Obama during his re-election campaign in 2012, co-authored (with
Cass R. Sunstein) the New York Times best-selling book Nudge, one of the
first books making all the academic knowledge of how people make decisions
accessible to those outside the academic community. His latest book,
Misbehaving – The Making of Behavioral Economics, is released next month
and tipped to be another great success.
10. Spotted: Healthy shopping trolley in Walmart, Costa Rica
People spend an average of 90 minutes walking while they shop, for the most
part not realising how much exercise they are doing – far exceeding the WHO
guidelines of 20 minutes per day. Walmart introduced the Healthy Shopping
Cart, with a screen showing distance travelled, calories burned and heart rate.
This showed users how easy it is to get more activity into their lives, and how
many calories they could burn doing normal daily activities. Nutritional tips
were also displayed on the screen, helping customers choose healthy items to
suit their lifestyle. A shopping trolley with an iPad on it is also an incentive to
spend longer in the store – therefore spending more money, both a business
and a social win for Walmart. Watch the video here.
REAL LIFE NUDGE OF THE MONTH
UPCOMING EVENTS
Professor Paul Dolan’s Introduction to Behavioural Science
Friday 8th May
http://pauldolan.co.uk/introductiontobehaviouralscience
Mastering Strategic Decision Making
Monday 11th - Friday 15th May
http://www.euromatech.com/seminars/management-leadership/mastering-strategic-decision-making/
Behavioural Finance Programme, Cambridge Judge Business School
Tuesday 26th – Wednesday 27th May
http://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/programmes/execed/open-programmes/behavioural-finance/