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Lecture 2: Utility

Economists assume that the goal of our behaviour is to maximize utility, i.e., we search for the actions that will bring good outcomes.

Pros and cons

How do the patients make a comparison between different options? Can these options be scored?

There is a way to score each option and make a comparison, and such a ‘score’ is the utility of an action. That means we can judge which choices have higher utility by looking into our preferences in making a decision.

So do our patients. They apply this principle to make a decision.

However, is there any other way to help our patients to see more clearly in this situation and help them make a suitable decision? Which one will be more realistic and which one is not?

What do you think?

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Brain, Behaviour, and Dentistry

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FutureLearn - Learning For Life

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