[PEN-L:4803] Re: econ. and cognitive psychology

["Christopher Murphy" <MURPHY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim Devine writes,

> Has anyone ever applied cognitive psychology to understand economic
> events and phenomena?
>
> Is there any author who has compared the cognitive psychological
> model of human beings with the behaviorist one employed by
> economists?
>
> Has anyone remarked that homo economicus is either autistic or
> psychopathic?
>
> sincerely,
>
> Jim Devine
> jndf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx or jdevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles, CA 90045-2699 USA
> 310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950

I don't think he has written on it anywhere but E.K. Hunt pointed out
in the pol econ seminar here at Utah that if one takes the behavior
assumptions of neo-classical economics seriously then homo economicus
is truly psychopathic.  A psychopath is one who feels no connection
to other human beings.  Homo-economicus is only concerned with
maximizing his/her own utility function and has no concern for others.

Chris Murphy
Univ. of Utah
Salt Lake City