Should humans be rational thinkers?

     The immediate answer to that question is normally YES! Of course Many of us like to consider ourselves as rational thinkers. But in reality, most often we are not rational thinkers. The classic model for decision making assumes that humans are rational agents and that we adapt to “maximize outcomes.” This however, is not true for information processors (which is what humans are).

     According to the lectures in Psychology 384 (Behavior & Environment), we (humans) live in an environment that is uncertain where problems are unstable. Living in an unstable environment were daily problems are changing hinders our ability to be rational since speed of decisions is picked over accuracy. Especially in the United States where life is very fast paced compared to other countries. For example, here in the States everyone is on a schedule and always looking for ways to be productive—solving new problems as they approach so they can move on to the next one. Another example of an environment that hinders humans from being rational thinkers is in war zones such as Syria. In these environments survival mode is turned on and more often than others rational thinking is out the window (i.e. when a person’s house is being bombed they are likely to think on their feet to get everyone to a safe spot than to be rational and think as a bomb is about to hit their roof).

     So, should humans be rational thinkers? In my opinion, various aspects come in to play such as environment, type of problem, and even safety. Given that, a person in a low crime, more safe environment can make rational decisions compared to a person in a high crime environment. In a perfect world, humans should be rational thinkers but in a world like ours sometimes it’s safe to be irrational thinkers to be able to wake up another day.