Bias in Wording

Prospect theory implies that the way options are framed dictates the way they will be received. The theory suggests that people's minds are more easily directed toward avoiding losses rather than securing gains.

I investigated the practical correctness of the theory by considering the following approaches to advertising the same kind of product. Here are the options that they were given:
Option 1. Look great in one week
Option 2. Stop losing money on food that makes you fat. We will help.
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Option 1. 3 weeks weight loss program
Option 2. 3 more weeks without our weight loss program will be too dangerous for your health.

The following example comes from a Comcast advertising campaign:
Option 1. YOU GOTTA ACT BIG. Save more than 22% over the competition. Get Comcast Business Class Voice, Internet, and TV for just $ 99 per month.
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Option 2. YOU GOTTA KNOW. You are loosing 22 % with your current provider.. Choose Comcast.

Result: The second option appeared much more attractive for all participants.

The important factors in choosing options and making decisions, similar to what the article "When Words Decide" suggests, would depend on people's likes and dislikes for the options, individual preferences, and an awareness of wording traps and biases.

What is bias? Although defined as a distortion of results or an unfair preference, it does not necessarily have to have that meaning or application. To create bias in news articles, it’s not necessary to misstate the facts; it is necessary only to establish a specific point of view as the default. News reporters may chose different frames for the same story. The difference between the writings is not necessarily intentional. The reader should identify the frame that is being used and chose the frame that fits.

Here is the example of the bias created in the news:

The Washington Post’s Howard Kurtz: “You’ve said on the program Inside Washington that because of the portrayal of Kerry and Edwards as ‘ young and dynamic and optimistic,’ that that’s worth maybe 15 points."
”Newsweek’s Evan Thomas: “Stupid thing to say. It was completely wrong. But I do think that, I do think that the mainstream press, I’m not talking about the blogs and Rush and all' that, but the mainstream press favors Kerry. I don’t think it’s worth 15 points. That was just a stupid thing to say."
Kurtz: “Is it worth five points?”
Thomas: “Maybe, maybe.”
— Exchange on CNN’s Reliable Sources, October 17, 2004.

A large number of choices in everyday life is teaching us to learn to resist and to feel good about our decisions. We must be skilled to detect bias as a one sided point of view. If the ones who report or sell bias are doing so to gain some advantage, do they care? They should, because they appear deceitful and that would reduce their creditability and relationship with the buyers in the future.

Evidently, words can be persuasive, and if replaced in the story, can give the story a completely different meaning. For instance, what does a word "free" means and how many meanings does it have?
Who benefits from changing words?Playing with words can help people, hurt people, make them laugh, motivate them, and make them make decisions.

Realizations:
1. Words are powerful
2. Everyone manipulates words in order to receive gains and that does not have to necessarily be a bad thing. For instance, in psychology, in work with clients, counselors lead clients toward finding their own decisions. Word traps are then justified by the goals that therapists intend to achieve. Choice of words and options is significant for decision making.
3.Prospect theory explains how people make choices in situations where they have to make decisions under risk.
4.We must evaluate options having in mind our goals and our past experiences.