Comments on: Using Game Theory to Explain Why People Are Superficial http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2008/09/02/using-game-theory-to-explain-why-people-are-superficial/ Articles on game theory and personal finance Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Presh Talwalkar http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2008/09/02/using-game-theory-to-explain-why-people-are-superficial/comment-page-1/#comment-2606 Presh Talwalkar Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:25:12 +0000 http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/?p=589#comment-2606 <b><em>Paul06016</b></em>: Excellent reference. "Influence" is one of my favorite books and this is a great point. Paul06016:
Excellent reference. “Influence” is one of my favorite books and this is a great point.

]]> By: Paul0616 http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2008/09/02/using-game-theory-to-explain-why-people-are-superficial/comment-page-1/#comment-2588 Paul0616 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:00:50 +0000 http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/?p=589#comment-2588 I have dabbled a little in the book: "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion", and there is a whole chapter on social proof. The principle is that in situations that are difficult to judge objectively, such as whether a person as "value", people look to other people to help make the decision. So the more people that think a person has "value", the more value they really have. And I imagine by extension, the more people of value, who think a person has value, the more value they really have. I have dabbled a little in the book: “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion”, and there is a whole chapter on social proof. The principle is that in situations that are difficult to judge objectively, such as whether a person as “value”, people look to other people to help make the decision. So the more people that think a person has “value”, the more value they really have. And I imagine by extension, the more people of value, who think a person has value, the more value they really have.

]]> By: Presh Talwalkar http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2008/09/02/using-game-theory-to-explain-why-people-are-superficial/comment-page-1/#comment-2580 Presh Talwalkar Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:40:38 +0000 http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/?p=589#comment-2580 <b><em>Paul0616</b></em>: Thanks for your comment, and I agree social proof plays an important role. I took the video as a lesson in signaling and imperfect information. It's not easy to show you are smart/funny/have a good personality from appearance. So it is in your advantage (perhaps necessary?) to make friends with attractive people to show that. But you did raise another issue about who won dance king/queen in high school. In my own experience, it was *not* the most attractive person. It was usually an "average package" that won out. Why was that? I think it has to do with the strategy of voting, a topic I plan to cover very soon ... :) Paul0616:
Thanks for your comment, and I agree social proof plays an important role.

I took the video as a lesson in signaling and imperfect information. It’s not easy to show you are smart/funny/have a good personality from appearance. So it is in your advantage (perhaps necessary?) to make friends with attractive people to show that.

But you did raise another issue about who won dance king/queen in high school. In my own experience, it was *not* the most attractive person. It was usually an “average package” that won out. Why was that?

I think it has to do with the strategy of voting, a topic I plan to cover very soon … :)

]]> By: Paul0616 http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2008/09/02/using-game-theory-to-explain-why-people-are-superficial/comment-page-1/#comment-2579 Paul0616 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:34:01 +0000 http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/?p=589#comment-2579 in a nutshell ~ the value of social proof the perfect person won't be a ten without plenty of social proof. The prom king & queen in high school were a combo of looks, talent, smarts, and popularity, with a strong emphasis on the latter. People liked them and wanted to be like them simply because others liked them. And being liked by those that are liked increases popularity by association. popular people gain attractiveness in a positive feedback loop nerdy, socially awkward people suffer a negative feedback loop rich get richer, poor get poorer, etc. in a nutshell ~ the value of social proof

the perfect person won’t be a ten without plenty of social proof. The prom king & queen in high school were a combo of looks, talent, smarts, and popularity, with a strong emphasis on the latter. People liked them and wanted to be like them simply because others liked them. And being liked by those that are liked increases popularity by association.

popular people gain attractiveness in a positive feedback loop

nerdy, socially awkward people suffer a negative feedback loop

rich get richer, poor get poorer, etc.

]]> By: Presh Talwalkar http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2008/09/02/using-game-theory-to-explain-why-people-are-superficial/comment-page-1/#comment-2570 Presh Talwalkar Sun, 07 Sep 2008 04:20:00 +0000 http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/?p=589#comment-2570 <b><em>Patrick Farrell</b></em>: Thanks for the feedback--that's precisely the feeling I had when I saw it. Patrick Farrell:
Thanks for the feedback–that’s precisely the feeling I had when I saw it.

]]>