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Predictably Irrational

Investigating the Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions

Happiness
Beware: Happiness Is Contagious

Dan Ariely on June 11, 2009

Social scientists used to have a straightforward, if tongue-in-cheek, answer to the question of how to become happy: Surround yourself with people who are uglier, poorer and shorter than you are—and who are unhappily married and have annoying kids. You will compare yourself with these people, and the contrast will cheer you up.

Social scientists used to have a straightforward, if tongue-in-cheek, answer to the question of how to become happy: Surround yourself with people who are uglier, poorer and shorter than you are—and who are unhappily married and have annoying kids. You will compare yourself with these people, and the contrast will cheer you up.

Behavioral Economics
Is Business Education Valuable?

Dan Ariely on May 18, 2009

Derek Bok, the 25th President of Harvard, famously said: “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” What we need is more business education, not less.

Derek Bok, the 25th President of Harvard, famously said: “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” What we need is more business education, not less.

Behavioral Economics
The Power of Price

Dan Ariely on April 10, 2009

Do we actually get what we pay for? Or do we just think we do? Why a dollar aspirin can do what a penny aspirin can't.

Do we actually get what we pay for? Or do we just think we do? Why a dollar aspirin can do what a penny aspirin can't.

Behavioral Economics
Doctors and Drug Companies

Dan Ariely on February 6, 2009

How ties between doctors and pharmaceutical companies affect the billion dollar drug industry-- and you.

How ties between doctors and pharmaceutical companies affect the billion dollar drug industry-- and you.

Behavioral Economics
Free Market Madness

Dan Ariely on February 2, 2009

Psychology Today's new blogger Dan Ubel, author of Free Market Madness, discusses the relationship between capitalism, McDonald's, and our expanding waistlines.

Psychology Today's new blogger Dan Ubel, author of Free Market Madness, discusses the relationship between capitalism, McDonald's, and our expanding waistlines.

Rationalization
From Taxes to Golf

Dan Ariely on January 26, 2009

Turns out we're all cheaters and thieves. Why we do this-- and how we rationalize it.

Turns out we're all cheaters and thieves. Why we do this-- and how we rationalize it.

Behavioral Economics
The High Price of Ownership

Dan Ariely on January 23, 2009

Life at Duke University revolves around basketball. Tickets to games are a hot commodity, and sometimes camping out for days isn't enough. But when the tickets are awarded at random, why do the lucky winners see their tickets as more valuable than their unlucky counterparts? Why we overvalue what we own...

Life at Duke University revolves around basketball. Tickets to games are a hot commodity, and sometimes camping out for days isn't enough. But when the tickets are awarded at random, why do the lucky winners see their tickets as more valuable than their unlucky counterparts? Why we overvalue what we own...