Caption: OLLI convocation speaker Dan Ariely talks with OLLI volunteers. Photo by Stuart Wells
Duke behavioral economist Dan Ariely, shared his insights into how people rationalize dishonest behavior and overlook conflicts of interest during a talk at the opening convocation Sunday of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Duke.
Ariely, whose TED Talks have been viewed more than 5 million times, leavened his speech with jokes and research examples. He cited one study in which participants who took candy without paying from a specially rigged vending machine recalled a previous experience with a machine that had cheated them.
“They leave having balanced their vending karma,” Ariely said. The Catholic practice of confession has been shown to reduce cheating, he said. Religion in general “has discovered something about opening new pages,” he said.
More than 360 OLLI members attended the convocation at Judea Reform Congregation, and more than 50 came early to participate in one of Ariely’s studies, which looked at memory, risk perception and honesty, prompted in part by reports that some casinos have preyed on older gamblers.
The event also featured a short concert by three members of The Ciompi Quartet, celebrating its 49th year in residence at Duke. Members of the Ciompi are on the music faculty at Duke and have taught at OLLI.
OLLI Director Garry Crites said members relish the diversity of offerings, from an exploration of the lives of ancient Greek women to a study of string theory, and engaging activities such as a visit to the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro or that culminate or a dredging expedition at the Duke Marine Lab.
OLLI president Dr. Wendell Musser, a retired academic physician who is teaching a course this fall on Winston Churchill, said OLLI thrives on its volunteers, who teach courses, serve as class assistants and work on 10 committees.
Mike Bahnaman, the group’s past president and a retired Dow Chemical executive, says he and his wife moved to the Raleigh-Durham area from Michigan in part because of Duke (he’s an alumnus) and the OLLI at Duke program. “OLLI is ‘learning for the love of it.’ Everyone is here for one reason -- to learn.”
OLLI member Beth Jarrard, who is taking courses on classic radio and film appreciation this term, says she tells friends how much fun it is to learn about topics of interest without worrying about a grade or worrying about lots of reading.
“I also enjoy listening to people's perspectives from all over the USA and other countries,” she said. “By the time one reaches OLLI you have had many life experiences to share.”
Jarrard, who has a master's degree in adult education, serves on one of OLLI's volunteer committees. “I love searching out possible topics of interest to people who have retired,” she said.
A lecture series kicks off on Sept. 17 with a free, public program on Triangle’s small theater scene. See the full listings on page 31 of the fall catalog.