Why do people fear the wrong things? – Gerd Gigerenzer

How can we use statistics to evaluate risk? Dig into the difference between relative risk and absolute risk and how each is used in the news.

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A new drug reduces the risk of heart attacks by 40%. Shark attacks are up by a factor of two. Drinking a liter of soda per day doubles your chance of developing cancer. These are all examples of a common way risk is presented in news articles, and can often be misleading. So how can we better evaluate risk? Gerd Gigerenzer explores the difference between relative and absolute risk.

Lesson by Gerd Gigerenzer, directed by Visorama.

Animator’s website: https://www.visorama.tv/
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View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-likely-is-a-shark-attack-gerd-gigerenzer

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