Amos Tversky
A cognitive psychologist who, with Daniel Kahneman, developed prospect theory and identified numerous cognitive biases that affect human decision-making.
Quotes by Amos Tversky
Expertise does not eliminate biases; it sometimes amplifies them.
The mind is a machine for jumping to conclusions.
Probability judgments are often swayed by narrative coherence over statistical evidence.
In uncertainty, we cling to stories rather than numbers.
Hindsight makes every outcome seem inevitable.
The curse of knowledge: once you know something, it's hard to imagine not knowing it.
People prefer certainty to doubt, even when doubt is more accurate.
Our decisions are shaped more by emotions than by logic.
The value function is steeper for losses than for gains.
Illusions of control make us believe we influence random events.
Judgment is influenced by what comes easily to mind.
We are prone to confirmation bias, seeking evidence that fits our beliefs.
Overconfidence is the most prevalent bias in human cognition.
The planning fallacy leads us to underestimate task completion times.
In groups, we conform to the majority view, even when wrong.
Regret is felt more intensely for actions taken than for those omitted.
The endowment effect: we value what we own more than its market price.
Status quo bias keeps us from changing even beneficial options.
Mental accounting explains why we treat money differently based on source.
We are loss averse; the pain of losing is twice the pleasure of gaining.