--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great thing about behavioural…" description: "\"The great thing about behavioural psychology and economics is that they help us to see that there are actually pretty good reasons why human beings swi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/niall-ferguson-3627_about_the-great-thing-about-behavioural-psycho_3205795.jpg" --- # The great thing about behavioural psychology and economics… ![“The great thing about behavioural psychology and economics is that they help us to see that there are actually pretty good reasons why human beings swing from greed to fear, and why we're not really calculating machines or utility-maximisers.” quote by Niall Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/niall-ferguson-3627_about_the-great-thing-about-behavioural-psycho_3205795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/niall-ferguson-3627_about_the-great-thing-about-behavioural-psycho_3205795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/niall-ferguson-3627_about_the-great-thing-about-behavioural-psycho_3205795.jpg) > “The great thing about behavioural psychology and economics is that they help us to see that there are actually pretty good reasons why human beings swing from greed to fear, and why we're not really calculating machines or utility-maximisers.” [Niall Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-ferguson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human behavior is driven by emotions and biases, not pure rational calculation, explaining swings between greed and fear. **In simple terms:** People act on emotions, not just logic. Key Takeaway Recognize emotional influences in decisions. Themes behavioral economics psychology human nature decision making Mood analytical reflective Type insightful educational When to use this quote - investing - marketing - policy design - personal finance - leadership Key Concepts cognitive bias emotional regulation risk perception Questions to Reflect On - How do your own emotions affect your choices? - What strategies can reduce bias? A Different Perspective Emotions can be manipulated, leading to irrational outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Great thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-thing/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [It's hard to fathom the psychology of the economics of art. 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There are no good reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/there-are-no-excuses-there-are-no-good-reasons/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [“In a word if you tell me you have a personality problem I am not certain until I know you better whether to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-harold-maslow/in-a-word-if-you-tell-me-you-have-a-personality-problem-i-am-not/) [Abraham Harold Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-harold-maslow/) ## More by Niall Ferguson > [“I wrote this book because I had formed a strong impression that the people currently living were paying insufficient attention to the dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-ferguson/i-wrote-this-book-because-i-had-formed-a-strong-impression-that-the/) [Niall Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-ferguson/) > [“Consider this: the US economy created 2.4 million jobs in the three years beginning in June 2009. In the same period, 3.3 million Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-ferguson/consider-this-the-us-economy-created-2-4-million-jobs-in-the-three/) [Niall Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-ferguson/) > [I think the rise of quantitative econometrics and a highly mathematical approach to risk management was the obverse of a decline in interest in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-ferguson/i-think-the-rise-of-quantitative-econometrics-and-a-highly/) [Niall Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-ferguson/) > [“Is it better today to be in a network, which gives you influence, than in a hierarchy, which gives you power?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-ferguson/is-it-better-today-to-be-in-a-network-which-gives-you-influence-than/) [Niall Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-ferguson/) > [As a teacher, my strategy is to encourage questioning. 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