Tomatoes, marriage, and how your brain messes up big decisions

What a viral video about tomatoes can teach us about cognitive bias

In the produce section of a grocery store, a micro-drama unfolds between a couple. The two of them stand in front of a pile of tomatoes. She picks one up, inspecting its shine, its smoothness, its lack of flaws—and, having deemed it worthy, she places it in a clear plastic produce bag.

While she searches for the next one, her deadpan partner grabs a tomato from the same produce bag and hands it to her.

She evaluates his chosen tomato—ones she’s already selected. Her lips thin a little bit, and she rejects it.

Watch the video. It’s hilarious:

There’s so much going on here. When I saw the video a couple of weeks ago, I couldn’t stop watching it. In 26 seconds, we’re witness to an intricate web of four different cognitive biases—four different patterns that distort our decisions.

Over the next four weeks, I’ll expand on each of them, and how they’re responsible for keeping us in toxic jobs, for marital strife, and for thwarting our happiness.