Risk

### Cold Open

Jason Silva: "You know, there's a reason why casinos are one of the most popular forms of entertainment on the planet. And it's because your brain loves the rush that it gets when you're taking a risk! And it's not so different from the hidden risks behind the choices you make every day."

### Questions

So, how good are you at calculating risk?

## Games

### Game #1: Bet on Circles

Which circle is moving wider?

Result: You probably picked the red circle, but when we remove the wheel, they spin at the same distance.

So: While we did fool your brain, we made you think you were making a safe bet..

### Game #2: Penguin on the Desert

Pick a door out of three options. One holds money, the other two, penguins. Then you'll be offered the opportunity to switch once one of the penguins is revealed. Play along with volunteers.

Result: When people switch, they seem to win more often.

How: Even though it might feel wrong to your brain, switching increases your odds because at the beginning of the game, you have a 2/3 chance of picking a penguin, and once the penguin you didn't choose is revealed, you're more likely to win by switching to the other door. It might seem confusing, but it's because your brain is weighing the odds, and an older system running on raw emotion may often win out, dicitating the risks you take, even if they don't make logical sense.

### Game #3: Water Trap

Will people trust Eric Leclerc with their phone when asked to leave it hanging above water with just his fingers?

Result: Eric is able to pull the trick off, but most volunteers did trust him.

Why: They simply wanted to find out what would happen, which is why they took the irrational risk because your brain loves to be curious and it's hardwired in your brain, and taking risks reap rewards, even though you can't be careless.

### Game #4: Square Moves

Pick any blue square and let Jason Silva control your actions.

Result: You end up losing the bet, because Jason correctly predicts your square using a tricky formula.

So: Even though this might just be a simple game, many companies, including casinos, use complicated math to determine risk and make sure they always make a profit. That's why the house often wins.

### Game #5: This or That

Questions about what is riskier.

Result; You probably went with the majority's options, and like them, you're wrong.

So: Our brains' assumptions aren't always correct.

### Game #6: Snake!

Figure out where you would call it quits in Dr. Brady Barr's Job.

Result: Most viewers can't handle the risk, but some could.

Why: There's a way to influence your risk. Find out in the next game.

### Game #7: Pump the Money

Players must pump a balloon without letting it pop. Will people be greedy for more money and the win? They'll be split into two teams, won't see each others' totals and watch videos before playing. The team with the most cash at the end wins.

Result: While the green team played it safe, the red team burnt their cash by risking too much.

Why: The videos showed before the game influenced their risk. The green team saw calming videos, while the red team saw risk-taking, fast and furious like videos. The faster your brain thinks, the more it risks.

## List of Experts

* Eric Leclerc(Illusionist)
* Dr. Brady Barr(Guest)