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Quantum Theory May Explain Wishful Thinking

explosivejared writes "Humans don't always make the most rational decisions. As studies have shown, even when logic and reasoning point in one direction, sometimes we chose the opposite route, motivated by personal bias or simply 'wishful thinking.' This paradoxical human behavior has resisted explanation by classical decision theory for over a decade. But now, scientists have shown that a quantum probability model can provide a simple explanation for human decision-making — and may eventually help explain the success of human cognition overall."

25 of 415 comments (clear)

  1. I choose not to believe this... by mc1138 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or is that just wishful thinking?

  2. I hate uncertainty by eln · · Score: 5, Funny

    which is why I make sure every cat I put in a box has been killed beforehand. Suck on that, Schrodinger.

    1. Re:I hate uncertainty by nine-times · · Score: 3, Funny

      Of course, that just changes the problem. Now the cat is both dead and a zombie cat at the same time.

  3. Re:coincidence by eln · · Score: 4, Funny

    You may be right, but if you present it that way how is a geeky theoretical physicist going to get grant money to go hang out with the hot chicks in the psychology department?

  4. Quantum Theory May Explain Wishful Thinking by rockNme2349 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I really wish I could believe that.

    --
    Sewage Treatment Facilities - "Our duty is clear."
  5. In other news... by Venik · · Score: 5, Funny

    In other news: a recent study by the American Wave Mechanics Society suggests wishful thinking may explain quantum mechanics.

    1. Re:In other news... by cayenne8 · · Score: 3, Funny
      "In other news: a recent study by the American Wave Mechanics Society suggests wishful thinking may explain quantum mechanics."

      I don't think neither wave mechanics nor quantum mechanics can figure out how women think. I think that is pretty much beyond comprehension to anything less than a supreme being.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    2. Re:In other news... by julian67 · · Score: 3, Funny

      I am the supreme being and here it is: sex, shoes, babies, butt size, curtains, weight gain (see sex), wrinkles, dust.

    3. Re:In other news... by nelsonal · · Score: 5, Funny

      Women generally think the same way men do (slightly more cautious but it's pretty moot), but after they think it they do a kabuki dance of decit to cover of their tracks. The trick with women is to learn what they actually want which is almost always very different from what they say they want (but they would lose power if they were direct).

      --
      Degaussing scares the bad magnetism out of the monitor and fills it with good karma.
    4. Re:In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      Here's how to "win" at women:
      Have a dick made of chocolate that ejaculates money.

    5. Re:In other news... by foobsr · · Score: 4, Funny

      I don't think neither wave mechanics nor quantum mechanics can figure out how women think.

      It has been figured out a long time ago: obfuscated mechanics.

      CC.

      --
      TaijiQuan (Huang, 5 loosenings)
    6. Re:In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Here is what a lady friend of mine wrote to me when asked what she planned to do with her house and empty lots in this financial downturn. Here it is verbatim.

      "This is little reason to ponder resolution. What IS shall be fulfilled without prior announcement of conditions.

      Our joy is in the TRUSTING & developments from this.

      Creative measures abound without the limitations of thought.

      Live this day as a last. Each has its reason, if but to challenge our TRUST. To reason is folly, for truth has no reason, only purpose.

      Constructs of the mind de-rail any initiative with fancy. Loose the need to think. Being the mind hinders the ability to recognize the perfection."

      So basically her position is one of Trusting and Allowing for what is meant to be, and not think things to death.

      Would your lady friend happen to be google translator?

    7. Re:In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      A supreme being with a 7 digit user number? I think not.

    8. Re:In other news... by julian67 · · Score: 2, Funny

      slashdot got busy on day 7 when I was resting up thinking about smiting and flooding.

    9. Re:In other news... by julian67 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Bless you, and try to kill more non-believers.

    10. Re:In other news... by Digital+Vomit · · Score: 4, Funny

      My advice would be to stop treating women like alien creatures and assuming they're always trying to deceive you.

      That sounds like reasonable advi-- hey, wait a minute. How do we know you're not one of them?

      --
      Modern copyright is theft of culture from everyone and it retards the progress of the useful arts and sciences.
    11. Re:In other news... by julian67 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Start with this guy.

    12. Re:In other news... by leromarinvit · · Score: 4, Funny

      Would your lady friend happen to be google translator?

      I dunno... I asked her and all she had to say was "How do you feel about your lady friend happen to be google translator?"

      --
      Proud member of the Ferengi Socialist Party.
    13. Re:In other news... by MrPhilby · · Score: 2, Funny

      Thank god for Slashdot when I have women probs

  6. Wave function of the Armageddon by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    I checked my pocket to see if I had any money and the measurement collapsed my wishful thinking wave function into an economic dystopia defined from negative infinity to positive infinity (sorry everybody).

    I wish I had checked my mail instead. I might have resolved the universe into a superposition sqrt((depression**2 +/- boomtime**2) / 2).

  7. Re:People are stupid. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    People are stupid.

    Especially when I see contestants on Deal or No Deal

    The fact that anybody watches Deal or No Deal to begin with proves your point.

  8. Re:Unfortunately I'm a Bit Skeptical by Nerdfest · · Score: 3, Funny

    Mmmmmmm ... quantum waffles. I'd probably have syrup on those.

  9. Humans are complex hacks. by argent · · Score: 3, Funny

    You don't need to invoke quantum mechanics to explain why a bunch of software written over a period of several billion years using a random walk algorithm and just about every bad software development model (cargo cult programming, spaghetti inheritance, copy-and-paste, ...) doesn't always follow the optimal course of action.

    I blame Penrose. Not because I have a logical reason for it, but because blaming Penrose makes my R-complex feel good. Yummy.

  10. Re:Unfortunately I'm a Bit Skeptical by camperdave · · Score: 3, Funny

    A gazelle with a broken leg tastes just as good as a gazelle with four good legs.

    ... or is that just wishful thinking on my part?

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  11. Re:coincidence by BrokenHalo · · Score: 2, Funny

    The hot chicks in the psych department are more concerned with the political statement made by their current hairstyle.

    The money (ha! if any) would be more likely found in the molecular biology faculties. Or if no money, at least some intelligible conversation...