Risk literacy: Gerd Gigerenzer at TEDxZurich

In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes. We learn to read and write but not how to deal with uncertainty: we are risk illiterates. Why do we fear what's unlikely to kill us? Is it true that people are basically hopeless when it comes to managing health and wealth? Some experts have concluded that Homo Sapiens ("man the wise") is a misnomer, and that John and Jane Q. Public need continuous guidance, as a child needs a parent. Against this pessimistic view, Gerd Gigerenzer argues that everyone can learn to deal with risk and uncertainty, and that experts can be part of the problem rather than the solution. A democracy needs risk-savvy citizens who cannot be easily frightened into surrendering their money, their welfare, and their liberty. We should begin to teach risk literacy to everyone.

Gerd Gigerenzer is director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and director of the Harding Center for Risk Literacy in Berlin. Previous positions he held include Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago and John M. Olin Distinguished Visiting Professor, School of Law at the University of Virginia. He is also a member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and the German Academy of Sciences, and Batten Fellow at the Darden Business School, University of Virginia. He received honorary doctorates from the University of Basel and the Open University of the Netherlands. Awards for his work include the AAAS Prize for the best article in the behavioral sciences, the Association of American Publishers Prize for the best book in the social and behavioral sciences, the German Psychology Award, and the Communicator Award of the German Research Foundation.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[ferlesss]

Such a good talk. It certainly deserves (and needs) more views!

[nenadsusic]

"Everyone who dares to know"...fantastic!!!

[playmesalsa]

Takeaway: Percentages are easily misunderstood, so when someone talks about risk, ask for the absolute terms e.g. thrombosis went from 1 in 7000 to 2 in 7000 rather than went up by 100% the later relative terms in percentages are normally interpreted out of context and lead to panic in this case, and other times is deliberately misused to sell products or pursue private agendas.

[pustakgagin]

he finished with two and a half minutes to spare! looks like he correctly assessed the risk of crossing the time limit.

[SeeSawMacaw]

Risk illiteracy is the single most important and most overlooked neurosis of society and government. It needs to be changed.

More lives would be saved and for the least amount of money. Mankind would live in less fear.

I love this message and it promoted me to buy one of his books.
I challenge anyone to come up with a more effective solution to make civilization better and safer.

[andrewleventis]

i love Gert's talks, i recommend further that everyone learns the principals of Bayes Theorem,

[adamsfilmfactory]

really good talk!
We even used this in a lecture about risk in medical school. They started teaching it after all :)

[SmarterWithRahul]

As a coach and marketer, this is a constant battle I have to face. Marketing misleads people on the wrong paths sometimes, and then coaching tries to bring them back to the right path. Advertisement literally means to advert/direct attention to something- usually the best part of something. So, advertisement and marketing are literally dramatization and twisting of reality. Most advertisement/marketing is done to make money and sell products, not to actually improve the life of the people or the world. As marketing progresses, Rory Sutherland, Thaler, Kanhmen, etc are doing some good work that can use behavioral guidelines and better way to persuade and market things to people. Hopefully.

[natashaparry]

Amazing talk! Fully agree with the sentiment 👍

[t.r.everstone]

Very good points! However, I find it interesting that in a video where he speaks about how presenting numbers a certain way can distort how accurately the risk is perceived, he says the number of deaths from the flu each year are 10, 000. That sounds like a lot before you do the math and find that is less than 1 in every 30, 000 people. And that's without realizing that most infections and deaths happen in highly populated urban areas like NYC. So if you live in NYC your risk may be more like 1 in every 15, 000 while in Kansas, your risk may be more like 1 in every 60, 000.

[biaobebin]

fascinating talk and control on speech

[luiseduardopinto]

Information format cause people perceive risk differently. I am agree. But base rate of current health outcomes is sufficiently high to merit attention. But risk literacy is at present more important than to listen news we never will understand. 

[greedobob]

Thanks, that really put things into perspective... STEP OUT OF THE CAR IF YOU WANT TO LIVE

[leopardabsurdity]

background incidence of VTE during pregnancy of approximately 1/1, 000 deliveries per this source: Bates SM, Greer IA, Middeldorp S. Venous Thromboembolism, thrombophilia, antithrombotic therapy and pregnancy: Antithrombotic therapy and prevention of thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence- based clinical practice guidelines. Chest 2012;141:e691s-736s.

[NENADJ]

Good info the best info that i've ever had was with the Fergs Treatment Crusher (just google it) - definately the most useful info i've followed.

[etienne]

Build your life on the Truth, the king james bible, ... or build on lies. It's your choice.

[animewatch]

The flu pandemic that never occur?
That comment aged well..

[ashishsigdel]

Hey everyone, the best info that ive ever had was by following the Fergs Treatment Crusher (just google it) - I found it the no.1 info i've seen.

[TheUmbowa]

Why are people laughing at the most inappropriate times? I didn't find anything funny in his talk

[He-Him_Man]

Risk literacy is hugely important to business, but American businesses are too arrogant and corrupted by extreme rationalism.