Gerd Gigerenzer

We all make hundreds of decisions every day.  But what criteria do we use when making these decisions? And why? Do we weigh the pros and cons or do we just trust our intuition?

These are exactly the questions pursued by Professor Dr. Gerd Gigerenzer, Director of the Center of Adaptive Behavior and Cognition at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin since 1997. Working together with scientists from the fields of anthropology, biology, computer science, mathematics, economics and psychology, he devotes his time to the study of so-called “heuristics.” There is a practical research goal behind this quite abstract concept: scientists analyze behavior patterns that lead human beings to make decisions and judgments. In this process, they research in particular the effects of time pressure and limited background knowledge on decision-making processes. In other words, Gerd Gigerenzer and his team look for answers to basic questions but also to applied problems. The researchers conduct mathematical analyses and perform experiments.

Making Good Use of Research Results

Gerd Gigerenzer is not the type of scientist who prefers to hide in his laboratory. His goal is to popularize his research results and, most importantly, to make them useful to a broader public.  This is why he passes on much of his knowledge – and enjoys tremendous success doing so. Gerd Gigerenzer is one of the world’s most quoted German-speaking psychologists. He achieved worldwide recognition with his book “Gut Feelings. The Intelligence of the Unconscious,” which has been translated into 17 different languages. In 2007, it was voted Germany’s Science Book of the Year (Wissenschaftsbuch des Jahres) and also received Switzerland’s Business Book of the Year Award (Wirtschaftsbuchpreis).

If you think that intuition and gut feelings have nothing to do with business, then you’re mistaken. “Our insights are very important in the field of doctor-patient communication, for example,” explains Gigerenzer, who trained physicians at Bayer Schering Pharma AG for many years. And not only that: Gigerenzer regularly trains American judges and managers in decision making and handling risks and uncertainties.

Business World Increasingly Aware of the Importance of Psychology

Berlin’s Max Planck Institute cooperates with a number of international business communities, and Gerd Gigerenzer has lectured at companies all over the world. “The business world is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of psychology,” he explains. Gigerenzer has worked and researched at many locations throughout the world. He has taught at the University of Virginia’s School of Law and Darden Business School. He was a guest professor at Queen’s University in Canada and a guest scientist at Harvard and Princeton universities.

Before coming to the Max Planck Institute, Gigerenzer worked at the world renowned University of Chicago. When asked why he left Chicago to come to Berlin, he said: “It was the Max Planck Institute that captured my imagination. There is a certain ease and lightness here that allows us to put our visions into practice. And there are few legal and administrative barriers standing in our way.” Gigerenzer also considers Berlin to be a strong location for science: “In Berlin, there is a tangible connection between business and R&D,” he notes. “Berlin is a young city with a dynamic atmosphere. The only thing I feel is missing here every now and again is the courage to pursue excellence – but the excellence itself is definitely here.”

You will also find Gerd Gigerenzer in the Who's Who Berlin: Capital of Science