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 one of the most important experts on decision with actions and 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)	Fehr, E. and 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.Bowles, S., Boyd, R. and Fehr, E. [eds], Moral Sentiments and Material Interests. The Foundation of Cooperation in Economic Life.. Cambridge, MA and London: MIT Press, 2005. Chapter 2 "Silk, J. B. "The Evolution of Cooperation in Primate Groups (pp. 43-73) Henrich, J., Boyd, R., Bowles, S., Camerer, C., Feher, E. and Gintis H. & McElreath, R., In search of Homo Economicus: Behavioral Experimentsin 15 Small-scale Societies.. --: American Economic Review ,91, 73-78., 2001. article Kahneman, D., Knetsch, J. L. & Thaler, R. H., Fairness and the Assumptions of Economics. --: Journal of 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 Dawes, R. M. & Thaler, R. H., Anomalies: Cooperation. --: Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2 (3), 187-197, 1988. article Parr, L. A. & de Waal, F. B. M., Visual kin recognition in chimpazees. --: Nature, 399, 647-648, 1999. 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. 179-189; 239-248; 287-293; 463-489. Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A., Choices, Values, and Frames. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2000. pp. 17-43; pp. 171-179; pp. 241-268. de Wall, F. B. M. & Berger, M. L., Payment for labour in monkeys. --: Nature, 404, 563, 2000. article Plous, S., The psychology of Judgment and Decision Making. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993. pp.79-173; pp.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 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 Brosnan, Sarah F. & de Waal, Frans B. M., Monkeys reject unequal pay. --: Nature, 425, 297-299, 2003. article