TED - Do we control our decisions?

Dan Ariely asks, Are we in control of our own decisions?

Dan Ariely discusses how complex problems can cause irrational decisions. People are influenced by options that are presented, even though they are options that are never chosen (decoy effect). He performs research on behavioral economics and is a professor at MIT. His lecture is filled with enlightenment and humor with regards to human behavior.

It's interesting that Dan Ariely begins by showing us a visual illusion. He demonstrates that so many decisions we make based on intuition can be skewed. Whether it's a visual decision, a complex decision, or a preference decision. Are we humans so easily manipulated with decoys and do we concentrate on the negatives? If so, Marketing majors take note.

Would you like an apple or an orange? How about an apple, half eaten apple, or an orange? Does the apple appear awfully tasty now?