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Loss Of Emotion Leads To Indecision

Jonah Lehrer VideoWithout emotion you can’t decide.  Yet most people think they are rational beings that make decisions in a calculated, rational manner.  Lehrer’s book, How We Decide, turns all this on its head. The key point of the book is how loss of emotion leads to indecision. And how humans really make decisions driven by emotion rather than rational thinking.

There’s been a lot of work in this area, but I found Lehrer’s book an interesting read while communicating key findings in neuroscience and the how and why of emotion being such a crucial component of decision making, and indirectly, marketing.

I’ve always been keen about connecting science to the need  of having to create “an emotional connection” or “emotional end benefit” with consumers in order to sell effectively. Lehrer details how emotion is indespensible in helping humans make sense of the “helter skelter” of every day life.  Consumers seek out brands, even when they think they are not, because brands make it easier to decide at the supermarket or dealership.  No doubt, this is obvious, yet what’s important here is the scientific rationale clearly linking emotions to decision making, in every area of life.  So, it is science making the case that branding and marketing are required and not optional.

Key quote:

“Even when we are not conscious of our emotions they are driving our decisions.”

Check out the video, it’s a bit long, but Lehrer covers most of the important points in the book.

Filed under: Marketing — Richard Phillips on January 20, 2010


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