Gerd Gigerenzer is a well-known German psychologist, behavioral scientist, statistician, writer, and educator. He has greatly improved our understanding of decision-making, especially in uncertain situations. Gerd earned his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in psychology from the University of Munich and completed a postdoctoral habilitation. He has held academic positions at the University of Munich, University of Konstanz, and University of Salzburg. He was a Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago and later became the director of the Max Planck Institute for Psychological Research in Munich. He then moved to the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, where he is now director emeritus. Since 2009, he has led the Harding Center for Risk Literacy at the University of Potsdam.
Gerd's research focuses on bounded rationality and heuristics, examining how people make decisions with limited information and time. He believes that traditional probability theory does not work well in uncertain situations and promotes the use of heuristics—simple rules that can help in decision-making. His idea of the adaptive toolbox shows how people and organizations use different heuristics based on their circumstances. His work at the Harding Center aims to improve risk literacy in healthcare, helping doctors and patients understand risks better.
As a critic of traditional views on decision-making, Gerd argues that heuristics are not signs of bias but smart strategies for making rational choices. He has created important heuristics, such as the recognition heuristic and the take-the-best heuristic. His work has earned him many honors, including honorary doctorates and membership in prestigious academies. Gerd has worked on projects to enhance decision-making and risk literacy, collaborating with organizations like the Bank of England and training professionals in various fields. He is recognized as a leading expert in decision-making and risk literacy, influencing our understanding of how people make choices under uncertainty.