We expect to be given choices. Choice is a part of our freewill; we can make decisions about our own lives and move right along. When you go to the DMV it’s your choice to be an organ donor or not. Well, you think you have that choice. Most people are ignorant to the lack of control they actually have over their choices.
Behavioral economist, Dan Ariely, presented research during a TED talk that suggests people are not as intentional with their decisions as they may believe. The research surveyed different countries and the percentage of people who chose to be organ donors.
The graph below shows the percentage of people in various countries who chose to opt-in or out of being organ donors.
Look at pairing countries, Sweden and Denmark for example; 85.9 percent of people opted out, but only 4.25 percent of people opted in. The drastic difference seems a little odd.
But here’s the reason: the countries on the left side of the graph were given a form that said, “If you want to opt-in to be an organ donor, check the box,” and the countries on the right were given a form that said, “If you want to opt-in to be an organ donor, DO NOT check the box.”
The choice of words and phrasing of the sentence causes people to think differently, therefore, causing them to choose different responses. Very sneaky.
People often forego their choice as a consequence of being unintentionally ignorant and not paying attention to the choices provided to them. Rational choice then becomes a more difficult task when looking at all the options. We not only need to pay attention to the concept, but also the format it is presented in. It is imperative to making intentional decisions.
With the upcoming election, we must be intentional with our choices. Pay attention to every aspect of your decision; consider the source providing you with information, consider what’s in it for the author, examine the direction they are pushing you, and go further in exploring the opposing side.
Do not forego making an intentional decision because it requires more effort.
