Masters in Business Richard Nisbett on Flawed Reasoning and Societies (Podcast)
Dec 31, 2021
Richard Nisbett, an emeritus professor at the University of Michigan, dives into the fascinating intersection of culture and cognition. He discusses how expectations, particularly in medication, shape our experiences, revealing the power of suggestion. Nisbett compares Eastern and Western thought processes, emphasizing the cultural differences in reasoning and decision-making. He challenges the notion of intelligence being purely genetic, exploring environmental impacts, family dynamics, and the importance of early childhood education in shaping cognitive development.
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Flawed Reasoning Then vs. Now
- Flawed reasoning was advantageous for early humans but poses challenges in modern society.
- The Industrial and Information Revolutions demand new reasoning skills due to increased data and interactions.
Birth Order and Risk
- Richard Nisbett's advisor, Stanley Schachter, found that firstborn females fear electric shock more than laterborns.
- Observing protective primate mothers, Nisbett theorized firstborns are generally more protected, leading to different risk tolerances.
East vs. West Thinking
- Asians think holistically, considering context and relationships, while Westerners think analytically, focusing on attributes and rules.
- This difference, observed in ancient physics and logic, stems from societal structures shaped by agricultural practices.
