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topher515 | 3 years ago

So if we take for granted that humans really, actually do seem to like free stuff more than we “should”, then perhaps instead of reacting with “lol, humans irrational”, we should more thoughtfully consider why evolutionary pressures would sculpt a mind that seeks out a “free lunch” over a cheap lunch.

Or, to rephrase, if free-seeking is such a powerful effect, then evolution must’ve intended our brains to work this way. Thus suggesting that, while the effect creates individual decisions that are economically irrational, over the long term it must be a survival benefit.

There’s a lot of ways this could work (and I’m eager to hear HNers speculate) but one that springs to mind is thinking in terms of risk as cost.

Imagine you must choose getting great fruit by climbing a slightly unsafe tree, or eating mediocre fruit on the ground in front of you. Over the long term evolution should favor the creature that eats the no-risk ground fruit over even the very low risk climb. Taking ZERO unnecessary risk would be favored, because even the tiniest risks are survival filters over evolutionary time scales.

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Jedd|3 years ago

> ... if free-seeking is such a powerful effect, then evolution must’ve intended our brains to work this way.

Evolution doesn't intend anything, of course. In the same way that evolution didn't intend us to get chubby because sugar is now cheap and abundant. (Actually that one may be more explainable in evolutionary terms.)

The free shipping example given in TFA doesn't reconcile easily with evolutionary pressures. Nor would it explain why two mature & well fed adults elected to risk injury over some surplus (if potentially tasty) kilojoules.

Money (and agriculture) are much too recent in our history -- say 9-12k BP -- for there to be any measurable or significant genetic adjustment.

darkerside|3 years ago

I think we typically engage our Type 2 brains (see Daniel Pink) to make buying decisions. When something we want is perceived as free, our Type 2 brains are totally bypassed because the cost computation is perceived as complete. If something has even a small price, our Type 2 brain is engaged and detects an anomalous result.