Predictably Irrational

Investigating the Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions

Dan Ariely is a behavioral scientist at MIT and the author of Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions. See full bio

April 10, 2009

The Power of Price

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

March 27, 2009

Warren Buffett and his attempts at self-control

How an analytical thinking billionaire battles overeating. Read More

February 13, 2009

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

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

February 9, 2009

Marketing and the IKEA Effect

HBR just came out with their Breakthrough Ideas for 2009.

One of my projects was selected to this list in 2008, and another was selected this year.

Here is the writeup of the project ....

February 6, 2009

Doctors and Drug Companies

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

February 2, 2009

Free Market Madness

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

January 26, 2009

From Taxes to Golf

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

January 23, 2009

The High Price of Ownership

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... Read More

December 10, 2008

Trying to Diet and Eating Too Much

Can it be that adding food make people believe they are eating less?

A recent study by Brian Wansink and Pierre Chandon report that this can indeed be the case (this version of the study was done with John Tierney of the NYT)

December 3, 2008

Insights from an Illegal Content Provider

One of the unexpected benefits of writing my book, Predictably Irrational, is the email I get from people. They discuss topics that range from raising kids to dealing with cancer to financial savings.

A few weeks ago I received an email. The sender had just finished listening to an illegal download of the audiobook and he wrote me how much he liked it.

Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

Behavioral Economics Basics

Why do we often think we know what we want, only to be disappointed with our purchases and choices? Behavioral economics studies just how irrational we humans can be.

Go to the Behavioral Economics Basics page for more on Behavioral Economics including:

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