Paul Slovic discusses human perception towards mass tragedies and losses at scale.

We as a global society value individual lives greatly and respond strongly to protect a single

Paul Slovic discusses human perception towards mass tragedies and losses at scale.

We as a global society value individual lives greatly and respond strongly to protect a single person in need, but often ignore mass tragedies and fail to take appropriate measures to reduce their losses. As the numbers grow larger, we become insensitive; the data fail to trigger the emotion or feeling necessary to motivate action. In some cases, large numbers convey a false sense of inefficacy, discouraging us from taking valuable actions. Understanding how our minds deceive us in the face of large losses of life is essential to motivating actions needed to reduce the harm from catastrophic consequences such as those associated with poverty, disease, climate disasters, and violence.

Paul Slovic received his B.A. degree from Stanford University, and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in psychology from the University of Michigan. In 1976, Dr. Slovic founded the research institute Decision Research with Sarah Lichtenstein and Baruch Fischhoff, where he currently serves as President. He has also been a professor of psychology at the University of Oregon since 1986. He and his colleagues worldwide have developed methods to describe risk perceptions and measure their impacts on individuals, industry, and society. His most recent work examines “psychic numbing” and the failure to respond to global threats from genocide and nuclear war. He publishes extensively and serves as a consultant to industry and government.

Dr. Slovic is a past President of the Society for Risk Analysis and in 1991 received its Distinguished Contribution Award. In 1993 he received the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award from the American Psychological Association. In 1995 he received the Outstanding Contribution to Science Award from the Oregon Academy of Science. He has received honorary doctorates from the Stockholm School of Economics (1996) and the University of East Anglia (2005). Dr. Slovic was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2015 and the National Academy of Sciences in 2016.

Moderated by Ozgen Dundar.

Malachi Heywood is a rising senior Business Management major at Paul Quinn College.

His academic focus lies at the intersection of business and environmental management, dedicated to

Malachi Heywood is a rising senior Business Management major at Paul Quinn College.

His academic focus lies at the intersection of business and environmental management, dedicated to fostering sustainability for future generations.

Nobel laureate Paul Nurse describes evolution by natural selection as "the most beautiful idea in biology." He unpacks Charles Darwin's theory, explaining how complexity emerges without a designer

Nobel laureate Paul Nurse describes evolution by natural selection as "the most beautiful idea in biology." He unpacks Charles Darwin's theory, explaining how complexity emerges without a designer and the profound impact of tiny variations on our understanding of life.

Nurse explores the deep genetic connections linking all organisms, from humans to yeast, prompting a crucial question: if all life is related, what do we owe to the living world? A distinguished biochemist, Nurse was awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize for his discoveries in cell cycle regulation.

For more insights, subscribe to Big Think on YouTube or read the video transcript.

"We're at this stage because we've treated the earth like a resource to be exploited for profit," argues Paul Paz y Miño, associate director of Amazon Watch. Fires in the Amazon are waking

"We're at this stage because we've treated the earth like a resource to be exploited for profit," argues Paul Paz y Miño, associate director of Amazon Watch. Fires in the Amazon are waking people up to the need for a radical change in how we value nature -- going beyond its economic worth or carbon sequestration potential.

The Natural History Institute will host author Gary Paul Nabhan for a special talk.

Nabhan's book, *The Nature of Desert Nature*, challenges conventional perceptions of desert

The Natural History Institute will host author Gary Paul Nabhan for a special talk.

Nabhan's book, *The Nature of Desert Nature*, challenges conventional perceptions of desert environments.

This event features prominent leaders in sustainability and integrated reporting. Speakers include Tim Mohin, Chief Executive of GRI; Richard Howitt, CEO of the International Integrated Reporting

This event features prominent leaders in sustainability and integrated reporting. Speakers include Tim Mohin, Chief Executive of GRI; Richard Howitt, CEO of the International Integrated Reporting Council; and Paul Simpson, CEO and Co-Founder of CDP.

The discussion will be moderated by Helle Bank Jorgensen, CEO of B. Accountability.

Multidisciplinary artist and TED Fellow Paul Rucker is unstitching the legacy of systemic racism in the United States. A collector of artifacts connected to the history of slavery -- from branding

Multidisciplinary artist and TED Fellow Paul Rucker is unstitching the legacy of systemic racism in the United States. A collector of artifacts connected to the history of slavery -- from branding irons and shackles to postcards depicting lynchings -- Rucker couldn't find an undamaged Ku Klux Klan robe for his collection, so he began making his own. The result: striking garments in non-traditional fabrics like kente cloth, camouflage and silk that confront the normalization of systemic racism in the US. "If we as a people collectively look at these objects and realize that they are part of our history, we can find a way to where they have no more power over us," Rucker says. (This talk contains graphic images.)

Check out more TED Talks: http://www.ted.com

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more.

Follow TED on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TEDTalks
Like TED on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TED

Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/TED