How Hormones & Status Shape Our Values & Decisions | Dr. Michael Platt

Time Pressure

Time constraints and emotional stress significantly impact decision-making, often leading to errors. Andrew Huberman explains that heightened arousal can cause individuals to misinterpret signals, resulting in poor decisions 1. He advises caution when pressured to make quick decisions, suggesting that urgency often indicates deception 1. Michael Platt adds that our brains have built-in constraints that limit information processing, leading to choice fatigue and errors 1.

The moment you start going fast, you start making mistakes, start making mistakes, you definitely pay for it later.

--- Andrew Huberman

Huberman emphasizes that while we often feel rushed, we usually have more time than we think to make decisions 2.

   

Economic Influence

Economic decision-making is heavily influenced by social factors and perceived value. Michael Platt highlights how people often mimic others' investment strategies, akin to behaviors observed in monkeys 3. This social influence can lead to market bubbles, as individuals follow trends without fully understanding the underlying value 4.

The more dialed in you were to other people, the higher your likelihood of losing everything in a bubble.

--- Michael Platt

Andrew Huberman notes that our valuation is often swayed by proximity and arousal, leading to less rational decisions 3.

   

Valuation Mechanisms

The brain's valuation mechanisms are complex, involving neural circuits that assess potential outcomes. Michael Platt explains that decision-making involves weighing evidence against past experiences to compute expected value 5. This process is not deterministic, allowing for statistical noise and variability in decisions 5.

The faster you go, the more mistakes you tend to make.

--- Michael Platt

Andrew Huberman adds that altruism, while seemingly selfless, often involves an unconscious expectation of return, highlighting the brain's transactional nature 6.