Educational offer - University of Padova

Syllabus

Prerequisites:	Basic knowledge of English
Target skills and knowledge:	This course aims to provide an introductory knowledge of decision making theories and research methods, and, in particular, it will cover social decisions in situations where the choice is between cooperation and competition (i.e. between altruistic and selfish behaviours).
Examination methods:	The examination is written and consists in answering in form of brief essays to four open questions
Assessment criteria:	The evaluation will be about the knowledge and understanding of the topics in the syllabus
Course unit contents:	Heuristics and Biases in Judgment and Decision Making Theories on Decision Making The Evolution of Altruism Games of Cooperation and Competition Strong Reciprocity and Human Altruism Happiness
Planned learning activities and teaching methods:	The approach used is interdisciplinary. We will examine studies of social and cognitive psychology, behavioural economics, evolutionary biology and social neuro-economics. During the lectures students will have the opportunity to participate in frequent empirical demonstrations of the phenomena studied, through ‘games’ inspired by behavioural economics. The course will be given in English. The course will include some lectures given by Professor Laurence T. Maloney of New York University (NYU). The professor is an important expert in decision making with actions and in mathematical models for psychology.
Additional notes about suggested reading:	The reading are parts of books and articles. The pages to be read are indicated for each book.
Textbooks (and optional supplementary readings)	Baron, J., Thinking and Deciding. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Ch.6 "Descriptive theory of probability judgment", Ch.10 "Normative theory of choice under uncertainty", Ch.11 "Descriptive theory of choice under unc Bowles, Samuel & Gintis, Herbert, A cooperative species. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2011. Chapters: 1, 2, 3. Brosnan, Sarah F. & de Waal, Frans B. M., Monkeys reject unequal pay. Nature, 425, 297-299: --, 2003. article Dawes, R. M. & Thaler, R. H., Anomalies: Cooperation. --: Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2 (3), 187-197, 1998. article de Wall, F. B. M. & Berger, M. L., Payment for labour in monkeys. --: Nature, 404, 563, 2000. article Fehr, E. & Fischbacher, U., The nature of human altruism. --: Nature, 425, 785-791, 2003. article Gilbert, D. T. & Wilson, T. D., Prospection: Experiencing the future. --: Science, 317, 1351-1354, 2007. article Gintis, H., Boyd, R., Bowles, S., & Feher, E.[eds], Moral sentiments and material interests. The foundation of cooperation in economic life. Cambridge, MA & London, UK: MIT Press, 2005. Chapter 2"The evolution of Cooperation in Primate Groups" Henrich, J., Boyd, R., Bowles, S., Camerer, C., Feher, E., Gintis, H., & McElrearh, R., In search of Homo Economicus: Behavioral Experiments in 15 Small-scale Societies. --: American Economic Review, 91, 73-78, 2001. article Kahneman, D., & Deaton, A., High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being. --: PNAS, 107 (38), 16489-16493, 2010. article Kahneman, D., Knetsch, J. L. & Thaler, R. H., Fairness and the assumptions of economics. --: Journal o Business, 59, 4, 285-300, 1986. article Kahneman, D., Krueger, A. B., Schkade, D., Schwarz, N. & Stone, A. A., Would you be happier if you were richer? A focusing illusion.. --: Science, 312 (5782), 1908-1910, 2006. article Kahneman, D., Slovic, P. & Tversky, A., Judgment under uncertainty: Heuristics and biases. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University press, 1982. pp. 3-20; pp. 48-68; pp.163-178; pp. 239-248; 287-293; 463-489. Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A., Choices, Values, and Frames. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2000. pp. 1-43; pp. 171-179; pp. 241-268. Parr, l. A. & de Waal, Frans B. M., Visual kin recognition in chimpanzees. --: Nature, 399, 647-648, 1999. article Plous, S., The psychology of judgment and decision making. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993. pp 79-130; 217-230 Sanfey, A. G, Rilling, J.K., Aronson, J. A., Nystrom, L.E., Cohen, J. D., The neural basis of economic Decision-Making in the Ultimatum Game.. --: Science, 300, 1755-1758, 2003. article Dal Martello, M.F., DeBruine, L. M., Maloney, L. T., Allocentric Kin Recognition is not affected by facial inversion. --: Journal of Vision, 15(13): 5, 1-11, 2015. article