Why the #1 behavior-change case study in behavioral economics is complete BS
If you talk to any behavioral economist for more than 2 minutes, you’ll probably hear about the ‘organ donation study’. It’s seen as the most successful…
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How to make things simple (using behavioral science)
"Just keep it simple." That's probably the most frequent piece of advice that I hear given out in the technology and startup worlds. It's great advice,…
This Cognitive Trap Is Your Biggest Barrier to Success
There are certain skills that everyone thinks they have. For example, almost everyone thinks they're a good driver. In fact, 93% of Americans consider themselves above average…
If you want to go far, take baby steps
I recently started working with a coach to optimize my diet. He lives somewhere in the maple syrup plains of Canada, so we communicate via Facebook…
The Social Downside to the Conveniences of Technology
Much of life is, and has been, invisible for most of history. We’ve always understood that people know each other, but there has been no universal…
Why most lines are rage-inducing (and why 1 type isn’t)
Last night, I was out at dinner with a close group of friends.It was a fairly hilarious situation.There were only about 3 or 4 full tables…
The Secrets to Being a Better Designer
The secret to becoming a better professional in any industry is practice, practice, practice. Even in creative industries like design, honing your craft is all about…
Applied Psychology in Silicon Valley.
(My answers to questions from Arjan Haring of the Persuasion API) Question 1: How do the people in the Bay Area look upon a neurologist/psychologist turned technologist?…
Delayed Social Development: The Cost of Texting Instead of Talking?
We’re complex beings. No one denies that. However, there are also some basic laws that explain much of our behavior. One of those laws is reinforcement:…
Behavioral Economics Reading List: Replication Failures & Critical Views
This resource will be continuously updated as new papers are discovered and published. No evidence for nudging after adjusting for publication bias “Thaler and Sunstein's "nudge"…
Just put your head on the bench and push, push, push!
I was on my 5th book and had just ordered a couple more.By looking through my dad’s library I found a few more, as well.I laid…
The perfect (psychological) cocktail… for drinking
I don’t really like drinking anymore. I’ll have maybe 3 drinks a month… and those will usually be consumed on dates (or as part of some…
Doing nothing is better than doing the wrong thing
I think that picking the right behaviors is the most important thing you can do in life. Let me show you what I mean. In 2012, I…
Nine User-Experience Tips to Rule Them All
1. Copy is design, too. The way that you describe and label the product is just as important as the visual design + feature set. It’s particularly important…
Don’t trust a fantastical behavioral scientist
The behavioral sciences are filled with rosy-cheeked optimists. Go to any psychology blog and you'll see article after article about how "you're way smarter than you…
Why The Controversial Airbnb Ads Might Be A Work of Marketing Genius
A hypothesis. On Wednesday I woke up to see this: The ad is a case study in tone-deaf yet delicious snark. At first I thought it…
Why you can only trust ~50% of neuroscientists
I can’t tell you how many meetings I’ve sat in over the years in which I’ve had to bite my tongue as someone at the table…
Why our conscious minds are suckers for novelty
Why can variable rewards, in some instances, be effective? Why would variability even be seductive in the first place?Let’s think about the purpose of conscious attention…
Don’t forget to remember
Once a week, I have someone over to clean my apartment.They turn my moderately messy (and cluttered) kitchen into a clean, orderly sanctuary.But, for the next…
Is Human Laziness Human Nature?
For most of human history, it’s been recognized that we tend to follow the path of least resistance. We go to comical lengths to avoid work…
Make your behaviors attractive
I'm going to write out a word, and I want you to tell me what pops into your head when you read it. OK... Ready? "Diet."…
Celebrity selfies are good for business (and your personal brand)
Every time I open up LinkedIn, I'm greeted with a photo of one of my connections.He's always smiling widely, with his arm around some famous (or…
Airbrushed Sexting: What We Can Learn From Snapchat
When I first learned about Snapchat in early 2012, I laughed it off. It seemed like a fun, novel idea but not a potential staple in…
How To Win Friends And… Start A Cult?
On August 9, 1969, Susan Atkins, Linda Kasabian, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Charles “Tex” Watson drove to the home of a famous Hollywood family and proceeded to…
The Rise of Virtual Reality: From Campfire to Oculus
Reading is a fairly recent phenomenon. It's generally accepted that language developed in the human species between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago. The written word, however,…
Behavioral Science + Design = Design Science
Today I want to take a short break from our "introduction" series and explore an idea I've been playing around with over the last couple of…
The Power of Negative Thinking
Different work cultures have different problems. In bureaucracies, there is often a problem with a culture of "no". New ideas are met with negativity, and objections…
How one of the best ad campaigns of past 17 years used behavioral science…
You don't have to be a behavioral scientist to change behavior... but understanding the principles is a huge help if you want to *consistently* change behavior. It's…
The Psychological Cocktail that causes you to buy on Black Friday
I love watching Black Friday videos. You know the ones I'm talking about. There are the brawling videos, in which two determined shoppers tackle each other,…
Behavior Is All That Matters
Throughout the business world, we measure and pay attention to a lot of different things. There are entire industries built around understanding beliefs, attitudes, and sentiment.…
How behavioral science can be used to build the perfect brand
Products as People: Using Psychology to Make Your Brand Attractive Picture this: an open-minded dreamer with a rebellious streak and an artistic side. What comes to…
The Death Of Behavioral Economics
I've got some bad news. Behavioral economics is dead. Yes, it's still being taught. Yes, it's still being researched by academics around the world. Yes, it's…
Real Change: Moving Beyond Habits to Achieve Lasting Transformation
Read Real Change and explore the companion worksheets.
Explore habit trading and transformative practices with Jason Hreha.