Predictably Irrational

Investigating the Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions

By Dan Ariely

Beware: Happiness is Contagious

By Dan Ariely on June 11, 2009 - 1:46pm in Predictably Irrational

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. Read More

How Pigs Replaced Economics

By Dan Ariely on May 19, 2009 - 9:36am in Predictably Irrational

It’s hard to displace a global economic crisis from headlining the news, but the pigs did it. A variant of the H1N1 flu virus, associated in our lore with the 1918 flu pandemic, has jumped species and infected humans. Read More

Is Business Education Valuable?

By Dan Ariely on May 18, 2009 - 8:27am in Predictably Irrational

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. Read More

Irrationality is the real invisible hand

By Dan Ariely on May 8, 2009 - 9:31am in Predictably Irrational

What's the real force driving the financial markets? Read More

Why bankers would rather work for $0 than $500k

By Dan Ariely on May 4, 2009 - 12:33pm in Predictably Irrational

Why asking for nothing can be so powerful. Read More

How to charge $37.50 for a cup of cafe latte

By Dan Ariely on April 13, 2009 - 8:17am in Predictably Irrational

How banks separate you from your money—and what can be done about it. Read More

The Power of Price

By Dan Ariely on April 10, 2009 - 9:08am in Predictably Irrational

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. Read More

Warren Buffett and his attempts at self-control

By Dan Ariely on March 27, 2009 - 8:23am in Predictably Irrational

How an analytical thinking billionaire battles overeating. Read More

The Psychology of Pain: "I Didn't Mean It!"

By Dan Ariely on February 13, 2009 - 9:10am in Predictably Irrational

There's a phrase we hear all the time, and one that suggests something about our psychological makeup: we're not just concerned with actions, but with their attendant mens rea - or lack thereof - as well. Read More