9.10 CHANGING MINDS

  1. You mention to a friend that you have just learned that the primary language we learn can shape the way that we think. Your friend says that people are people everywhere, and that this cannot be true. What evidence could you describe to support your point?

  2. In September, 2011, Wired magazine ran an article discussing the fourth-down decisions of National Football League coaches. On fourth down, a coach can choose to play aggressively and go for a first down (or even a touchdown), or the coach can settle for a punt or a field goal, which are safer options but result in fewer points than a touchdown. Statistically, the riskier play results in greater point gain, on average, than playing it safe. But in reality, coaches choose the safer plays over 90 percent of the time. Reading this article, one of your friends is incredulous. “Coaches aren’t stupid, and they want to win,” he says. “Why would they always make the wrong decision?” Your friend is assuming that humans are rational decision makers. In what ways is your friend wrong? What might be causing the irrational decision making by football coaches?