The Science of Persuasion: Cognitive Bias in the Age of the Attention Economy

This course explores common cognitive biases through the lens of contemporary media and ways in which we can build a more rational, thoughtful approach to decision making. Coursework includes excerpts from fun, popular science writing that summarize big ideas in cognitive and behavioral economic theory, exercises in rational thinking, and practice identifying cognitive biases in the wild. By the session’s conclusion students should have an appreciation of the complexity of our neurological processes and a tool-kit for more rational thinking with an emphasis on neural plasticity and growth-mindset.