Addressing Bias

While browsing ted.com today I found an interesting talk addressing bias on a cognitive, neuroscientific level. It is called optimism bias, and I think that it is related to some of the most important biases we talked about in class. Tali Sharot studies the optimism bias in London, and found the centers of the brain that control optimism and pessimism in humans. Although optimism is directly linked to a better quality of life, in many cases it can distort the analysis that we are counted on to deliver objectively. I thought that this could start a good discussion: should we as analysts pursue medical or technological methods of reducing bias? Or is this something that takes away our essential humanity? For more information, watch the full talk here (its about 18 minutes long).