Cognitive Science and Decision Making

Cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and decision-making: rational thinking, biases, emotions and stress

What you’ll learn
learn the principles of rational thinking and the criteria of good judgement,
learn the typical cognitive biases and specific decision-making strategies that decrease the quality of judgments,
understand how the brain works during decision making process, and what types of cognitive errors are determined by human biology,
learn how to apply debiasing strategies to minimize the impact of cognitive errors and environmental constraints on decision making.

Requirements
No prior knowledge in psychology, neuroscience, or decision-making theory is required.

Description
The course takes a comprehensive view of the cognitive psychology and neuroscience approaches towards decision making. The aim of the course is to introduce students to the principles of rational thinking and to increase awareness of the fundamental factors that bound human rationality.

On one hand, we will study the constraints on human cognitive capabilities that lead to biased thinking and heuristic decision making. The neuroscience perspective will help us understand how the brain processes information in order to make decisions. The cognitive psychology perspective will shed light on the role of personality, emotions, cognitive style and schemas in individual reasoning.

On the other hand, we will analyze constraints in the environment that stem from risk and uncertainty, groupthink, time pressure, information deficit and noise.

Each topic will include practical tips on how to apply the knowledge outside the classroom and improve the quality of individual judgement and choices. Additionally, students will engage in interactive exercises, case studies, discussions, and quizzes to reinforce learning, develop critical thinking skills, and gain a deeper understanding of how cognitive principles influence everyday personal and professional decisions, ultimately helping them become more effective, confident, and reflective decision-makers. Students will also learn practical strategies to recognize and overcome common cognitive traps in real-life situations.

Who this course is for
beginners who want to understand how people think, reason, and make decisions,
students interested in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, or behavioral economics
professionals who make decisions under uncertainty (managers, analysts, project leaders, policy specialists)
anyone who wants to recognize cognitive biases and improve everyday judgment and decision-making
learners interested in applying scientific insights to real-life choices, work, and personal development