The effort invested in 'getting it right' should be commensurate with the importance of the decision.

Poverty is clearly one source of emotional suffering, but there are others, like loneliness. A policy to reduce the loneliness of the elderly would certainly reduce suffering.

In essence, the optimistic style involves taking credit for successes but little blame for failures.

People who are cognitively busy are also more likely to make selfish choices, use sexist language, and make superficial judgments in social situations.

Adaptation seems to be, to a substantial extent, a process of reallocating your attention.

In strategic decisions, I'd be really concerned about overconfidence.

Facts that challenge basic assumptions-and thereby threaten people's livelihood and self-esteem-are simply not absorbed. The mind does not digest them.