Harnessing our inner angels and demons
Subtitle: what we have learned about want/should conflicts and how that knowledge can help us reduce short-sighted decision making
By: Katherine L. Milkman, Todd Rogers, Max H. Bazerman .
Contributors: Rogers, Todd; Bazerman, Max H.; Harvard Business School. Division of Research
Series: Working paper / Division of Research, Harvard Business School -- 08-020; Working paper (Harvard Business School. Division of Research) -- 08-020
Publisher: Division of Research, Harvard Business School
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Boston]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 50
Description: Although observers of human behavior have long been aware that people regularly struggle with internal conflict when deciding whether to behave responsibly or indulge in impulsivity, psychologists and economists did not begin to empirically investigate this type of want/should conflict until recently. In this paper, we review and synthesize the latest research on want/should conflict, focusing our attention on the findings from an empirical literature on the topic that has blossomed over the last 15 years. We then turn to a discussion of how individuals and policy makers can use what has been learned about want/should conflict to help decision makers select far-sighted options.
Notes: "September 2007"--Publisher's web site.

Includes bibliographical references.