Nudge Wiki

Person

Dave Trott

Advertising creative; author

Veteran advertising creative and author, cited repeatedly for real-world anecdotes illustrating behavioral-science principles: three GPS-following drivers who ignored obvious warning signs and physical common sense (Episode 134, see GPS Blind-Trust Disaster Cases, from Crossover Creativity), the invention of the null hypothesis via a disputed cup of tea (Episode 135, from Crossover Creativity), and the Capitol Crawl disability-rights protest plus an El Al baggage-screener anecdote illustrating skin in the game (Episode 139, from Predatory Thinking).

Referenced again in Episode 152 for an analysis of 965 football penalties finding goalkeepers who stand still would save more penalties than those who dive — yet nearly all dive anyway, which Trott attributes to social norms rewarding the expected, dramatic behavior over the statistically better one (see Goalkeeper Penalty-Dive Social-Norm Study).

Referenced again in Episode 250, from his book Creative Blindness (and How to Cure It), for the story of Barney, a foul-mouthed parrot whose rule-breaking behavior made a wildlife sanctuary a national news story — used as a narrative illustration of Distinctiveness (Von Restorff Effect) (see Barney the Swearing Parrot Distinctiveness Case).

Referenced again (Episode 89), from a new book, The Power of Ignorance, for the Dr. Minor/Oxford English Dictionary halo-effect story (see Dr. Minor Oxford English Dictionary Halo-Effect Case).

Referenced again (Episode 119), from yet another book, Creative Blindness, for the story of a 2003 Iraq War playing-card deck used to help soldiers memorize and capture most of a 52-person target list (see Iraq Most-Wanted Playing-Cards Mere-Exposure Case (2003)) — distinct from his existing Crossover Creativity source page.

Discussed in

  • Episode 89 — Why a Footballer Warned us About Nuclear War (referenced, The Power of Ignorance)
  • Episode 119 — The persuasive effect of mere exposure (referenced, Creative Blindness)
  • Episode 134 — 134-there-s-a-problem-with-the-world-s-most-famous-nudge (referenced)
  • Episode 135 — 135-elizabeth-holmes-how-she-deceived-the-world-part-two (referenced)
  • Episode 139 — 139-winston-churchill-lessons-for-modern-day-leaders (referenced)
  • Episode 152 — 152-how-to-manipulate-the-masses (referenced)
  • Episode 250 — 250-how-this-indie-movie-used-psychology-to-beat-hollywood (referenced, Barney the swearing parrot)

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