Rational vs Emotional Behaviour

In one of our marketing classes, the professor talking about customer behaviour put forward an interesting concept. He described about 'Rational' customers who base their decisions and hence purchasing pattern on pure rationale and cost-benefit analysis. These customers have partial or zero brand loyalty. On the other hand, there are 'Emotional' customers who are fiercely loyal to their brand and emotionally attached to the product.

This triggered a chain of thoughts about human behaviour. Having a scientific bent of mind since childhood and undergoing a formal degree in Engineering has led to a rational thinker in me. At almost every action and events, I have tried to apply the principles of rational algorithms, flowcharts, logical thinking, etc. This has led to many arguments with colleagues, friends, family and batch-mates. On many occasions what sounded pretty straightforward and logically reasonable to me was beyond their comprehension. I always tried, in vain, to explain the logic behind the event and thereby bring them on the same page as me. Numerous unsuccessful attempts left me confounded and often frustrated.

The 'Rational vs Emotional' explanation made perfect sense in this scenario and I decided to put the theory in practice during my day to day interactions. The experiment has yielded remarkable success. Just as it is difficult (sometimes impossible) to persuade a rational person with emotional arguments, the reverse is equally true. This explains my failed attempts in the past and a valuable lesson for the future.

Deep Faith or Blind Faith

I have always been intrigued by the superstitious habits and customs that we Indians time and again follow in the name of tradition. This basically includes two forms: The first form consists of offering flowers, sweets and sometimes even money and gold to deities in return for a job, exam result, business contract, etc. The second form is to inflict hardship on oneself (give up on eatables, fasting for days, walking barefoot, etc). , again for fulfillment of some wish, desire, etc.

Now, I quite frankly don't understand the logic of all this. The first form, I think is a purest form of bribery. Now, I know after all the struggle and RTI acts, we are yet to put an end to bribery and corruption in India. But dont the roots for corruption lie deep within us when even an intangible and unknown entity is dragged into this. If this is how we practice our religion, a subject matter of intimate personal nature, I dont blame the babus for taking a bribe or two. Afterall, they are not Gods !!

The second form of superstition leads one to believe that God is some kind of an evil and will grant you blessings only on your sufferings. Another logic for this faith could be pure blackmailing. Its akin to a kid refusing to have food because refused to buy him a bicycle. The kid knows that the parents care for him and hence will eventually have to give in to his wishes if he continues to starve.

I have had many arguments with my family, fiance and other 'religious' friends but the standard response from all of them is "It is their way of expressing 'deep faith' in GOD". Now, I turn to them and ask that if faith on the almighty is imperturbable, then shouldnt one just relax and put extra efforts on the task to be achieved and leave the rest to God. Afterall, your sincere hard work and the 'deep faith' should ensure that the desired results will follow? Or is it the case that these people adopt these so called 'religious' practices solely because they lack the 'deep faith' in God and would want to reinforce it by varied means?

Another Start

Boredom is a very strange thing. A person can come up with innumerable ideas to pass time and 4th semester of a management course at IIT Delhi sure is one hell of an exercise in boredom. With nothing to do these days, and having exhausted the standard timepass activities like movies, Prison Break, Friends, etc etc, I finally decided to once again revive my blogging career.

Well, to start with the blog was started with the intention of learning and remembering the teachings of a B School education. As you might be aware by the time gap between the 1st post and now, the main objective has clearly been lost. That doesnt mean that I have stopped learning or remembering the wisdom tit-bits, its just that my lazy mind has decided to absorb a few more things on its own than to take pains of blogging and putting it down on paper (screen).

So the obvious question then arises is what now? what is the purpose of writing this blog now? Well, I have decided to continue the blog to write about anything interesting/weird happening around me. To ask and hopefully answer questions about strange human behaviour and the eccentricities of life and the people you meet.

Well just as the last time, Welcome Aboard !!