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Psychology professor bridges disciplines at Faculty Research Forum
“Decisions are ubiquitous. We all make them,” observed Harvey Langholtz, professor of psychological sciences. Every day, we’re overloaded with choices: at the grocery store, where seemingly endless varieties of breakfast cereals line the shelves; on streaming services, which offer thousands upon thousands of shows; on our commute, where navigating traffic requires rapid judgments; and in deciding how we spend our time and with whom. But how do we continuously make all these decisions?
Langholtz has identified three approaches to understanding how we make decisions: analytical, cognitive and applied. He explored these approaches during a talk at the second Faculty Research Forum, hosted by the College of Arts & Sciences on Feb. 16. The series, which launched this past fall, aims to highlight and amplify notable faculty research and scholarship. At each forum, a professor can share recent research, work, or other projects that exemplify the interdisciplinary nature of the arts and sciences.
Langholtz specializes in applied decision theory and also the psychology of international diplomacy. With prior experience in the U.S. Coast Guard and as an American diplomat at the United Nations, Langholtz has spent much of his career applying decision theory to real-world scenarios. His latest book, “Making Decisions: Analytics, Cognition, and Application,” informed the basis of his talk.
“I will demonstrate that decision theory involves at least three approaches: analytical, cognitive, and real-world applications. I hope to bridge and link these three areas,” Langholtz said.
During his talk, Langholtz explained that the analytical path is math-based and utilizes probability. He presented mathematical problems with the audience, utilizing the interactive website Poll Everywhere to gather audience answers. He also explored decision trees through Pascal’s Wager, a 17th-century philosophical debate over the existence of God, which was one of the earliest examples of decision theory.
Langholtz then discussed the cognitive approach, with its foundations in cognitive psychology, the study of mental processes. He explained terms like “satisficing” (satisfies and suffices) and prospect theory, which is how people make decisions based on their perception of change. With this basis in the decision-theory field, Langholtz shed light on the applied approach. Well-known concepts such as the prisoner's dilemma, decision traps, and indecisiveness were the focus of this area.
By exploring the three approaches, Langholtz hopes we can make better decisions when we understand what draws us to certain choices. He concluded the talk with an audience Q&A, fielding questions on topics such as the impact of AI on decision making.
“The second forum led by Professor Langholtz was a fascinating look into a compelling subset of psychology,” said Audrey Horning, vice dean for research & graduate studies, who leads the series. “His work helps us better understand the human mind and allows us to reflect on our choices, so that we – hopefully -- can make more informed decisions in the future.”
The next Faculty Research Forum will be held on March 17 at 3:30 p.m. in Washington Hall, Room 201 featuring Mansfield Associate Professor of Government Kelebogile Zvobgo, who will discuss human rights in the public square, based on her new book “Governing Truth: NGOs and the Politics of Transitional Justice.”
The Faculty Research Forum is open to tenured and tenure-eligible faculty from all disciplines across Arts & Sciences and open to faculty at all career stages. More information about the nomination criteria and the interest form can be found here.