Humans are supposed to be the thinking species. The planet’s creature of logic. Yet all of literature and abundant human experience tell us otherwise.

Now, a new work of behavioral economics looks at how dependably goofy we humans can be. How “predictably irrational,” whether we’re standing at the all-you-can-eat buffet, or fingering our credit card or getting naked at Mardi Gras.

“We are pawns in a game whose forces we fail to comprehend” says MIT’s Daniel Ariely.

This hour, On Point: context, expectation, emotion — and the predictably irrational way of the human species.

-Tom Ashbrook

Guest:

Dan Ariely, behavioral economist at MIT and author of “Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.”

With a jittery economy, many Americans may think twice these days about where they invest their money. And yet, think as they may, smart people too often make dumb financial bets: on what will bring happiness, or yield big gains in the market.

To sort out why, a new breed of researcher — neuroeconomists — are studying how risk and reward, greed and fear, fire up our neurons. Good money decisions, it appears, may actually require us to fight against our brain’s hardwiring.

Two experts, a journalist and a neuro-economist, are here to offer their tips.

This hour, On Point: money on your mind.

-James Hattori

Guests:

Jason Zweig, senior writer for Money magazine and contributor to Fortune, author of “Your Money & Your Brain: How the New Science of Neuroeconomics Can Help Make You Rich.”

Kevn McCabe, professor of economics and director of the Center for the Study of Neuroeconomics at George Mason University.