RaymondVIP Fall Presentation

1. What Influences YOUR vote?
Prof. Vanessa Druskat
University of New Hampshire

2. 1906, Scientist, Francis Galton

3. Oxs Weight
Actual Weight
1,197
Groups Average Guess
1,198

4. A Simple, Powerful TruthUnder the right circumstances, groups are very intelligent. Often smarter than the smartest people in them.(Surowiecki, 2004)

5. Examples of times when groups make better decisions
When the answer is not clear
What programs should be cut in our educational system to save money?
When is a NASA space shuttle ready to launch.
Difficult medical decisions: When is surgery helpful or harmful?
Voting in local, state or national elections.

6. Good Outcomes for the U.S.
Thanks to American Voters
Perhaps, the Democrats won in the middle part of the 20th century because they were right about the the New Deal and the civil rights movement?
Perhaps, the Republicans won later in the century because they were right about the need for economic growth and ending the cold war?.(Brooks, 2007)

7. What Circumstances Get in the Way of Collective Intelligence
Emotions
---Social Situations
Conformity
Common Knowledge Effect
Rushing to Judgment
Poor Listening
Status

8. Page 8
The Human Brain
Prefrontal
Cortex:
New Brain
Thalamus
Amygdala:
Old Brain
Brain Stem

9. Social& Emotional Competence
9

10. Emotional Appeals in Crowds

11. 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserve.
Conformity
Adjusting ones behavior to align with the norms of the group.
ASCH STUDY
The Nurture Assumption
(Judith Rich Harris, 1998)

12. The Common Knowledge Effect
Information held by more members before team discussion
has more influence on team judgments that information held
by fewer members independent of the validity of the information,
e.g. in medical diagnoses.

13. Status

14. What Increases Collective Intelligence?
Using Your Old Brain and Your New Brain. Dont let others influence you through emotional appeals.
Learn to recognize when your emotions are taking over.
Dont make snap judgments wait a few beats and let the new brain kick in.
Get curious ask questions and listen.
Thinking for Yourself.

RaymondVIP Fall Presentation

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