Fantastic read. For a long time I have been amazed at the research being carried out in such fields. As well as that there are some great books out there that chart and delve into the concepts you are addresses, top of these is: Thinking Fast and Slow - this book honest to god changed my whole world.
Of course there is also Predictably Irrational, Stumbling on Happiness & Risk: The Science of Politics & Fear.
Thanks for the enjoyable post.
RE: Why Critical Thinking is So Important