Neuroeconomics – Investigating the biological basis of human decision making

Purpose: Different scientific disciplines, ranging from cognitive neuroscience and psychology to economics investigate individual decision making from their perspective and with their methodology. Within the new field of Neuroeconomics these different approaches try to find a common vocabulary and theories to better understand human behaviour. The homo oeconomicus as neoclassical model of the rationally deciding and universally informed human who always carries the maximization of his utility in mind dominated – and in part still dominates – economic research and theories. This view of human decision making has…