Alain Samson Ph.D.

About

Alain Samson, Ph.D., is a behavioral scientist, editor of the Behavioral Economics Guide, and Chief Science Officer at Behave Technologies (formerly Syntoniq, Inc.). He studied at UC Berkeley and the University of Michigan, followed by Ph.D. work in social psychology at the London School of Economics. His early research in psychology investigated the relationship between culture, religion, and cognition. He later became interested in consumer psychology and behavioral economics, particularly in the domain of finance. He has authored articles for academic journals in the fields of management, consumer behavior, and economic psychology. Alain is an Associate Expert at ESCP Europe Business School and a Founding Member of the Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists (GAABS).

Recent Posts

On Hold or in Overdrive: Decoding Inaction and Impulsivity

Do you act too quickly or fail to act altogether? Here's what you need to know about the fight-flight-freeze response of decision-making.

The Shocking Truth About Clickbait

You won’t believe what people fall prey to. A primer on the psychology of clickbait.

The Benefit of the Doubt: Do Experts Know Their Unknowns?

New research suggests that experts are good at recognizing when they’re right but show less awareness when they’re wrong.

Mitigating Mindless Munching

Discover 8 behavioral science-backed ways to reduce mindless TV snacking.

Is Mental Accounting Universal?

Money isn't just about numbers; it's about psychology. New research supports a longstanding tenet of behavioral economics.

Behavioral Science in the 21st Century: 5 Challenges

If behavioral science is to contribute to solving complex global problems, it needs to address challenges in five areas.

Savvy to Sneaky: 10 Ways Sellers Use Price to Make Us Buy

Are you falling prey to common pricing tricks used by sellers? Uncover the psychology behind 10 of them.

Do You Like to Think?

Decision quality is partly determined by your information processing. But do you enjoy the thinking process in the first place? The answer may be more important than you think.

How People Deal With Unexpected Time Gains

Do people treat unexpectedly gained time the same as financial windfalls?

5 Ways to Spark Reflections About Bias

These simple challenges are proven to create “aha moments” about rationality and bias. Why not try them at work?