How Uncomfortable We Are Making Choices for Others

How Uncomfortable We Are Making Choices for Others

The Matt Townsend Show - Season 7, Episode 196 , Segment 2

Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human, Making Choices

Episode: Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human, Making Choices

  • Aug 16, 2018 1:00 pm
  • 27:36 mins

Mary Steffel, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of marketing at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University. Her research examines social judgment and decision making, including when people recruit others to help them make decisions, what are the barriers to choosing effectively on behalf of others, and how to help people make better decisions for themselves and others. Often, we may even find ourselves hesitant to delegate tasks and decision making to others, even when they would benefit from doing so. Yet anyone who has worked in a large organization will tell you that, just as often, decisions can get passed from person to person, making it difficult for everyone to get work done. So how do we encourage delegating when it’s beneficial and reduce it when it’s not? Dr. Steffel shares her research.