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

November 19, 2008

A Game to Make Burns Hurt Less

Burns are a particularly nasty and painful type of injury: the nerve endings are damaged, skin regrows tougher and tighter, and on top of this patients have to also deal with physical therapy.

A new game, called Snow World gets burn patients to play a 3D computer game in which you move along a snowy path and fire snowballs at nonmoving targets.

November 13, 2008

Some Thoughts About Globalization

November 6, 2008

Danger--Visual Illusions!

Why visual illusions are dangerous — at least code orange!

November 3, 2008

Standard Economics Versus Behavioral Economics

A new “Mac vs. PC” video...(See Reality)

October 31, 2008

Bathrooms and Marketing Tricks

When do we consider and not consider hygiene?

October 30, 2008

For a long time it was difficult to make the argument that people might behave irrationally from time to time. Sure we could demonstrate different irrationalities with experiments, but people would always tell me "clearly when it comes to important decisions like the stock market people will be perfectly rational!" Read More

October 29, 2008

Irrationality and Food

Food might give us a good example of why we need to think more carefully about rationality now that we create products and markets... Read More

October 23, 2008

Who Enjoys Humor More: Conservatives or Liberals?

Jake is about to chip onto the green at his local golf course when a long funeral procession passes by. He stops in mid swing, doffs his cap, closes his eyes and bows in prayer. His playing companion is deeply impressed. "That's the most thoughtful and touching thing I've ever seen," he says. Read More

October 20, 2008

Isn’t Behavioral Economics a Depressing View of Human Nature?

It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like Homer Simpson than Superman. So from this perspective it is rather depressing. But at the same time there is also a silver lining. There are free lunches! Read More

October 19, 2008

Isn’t the Market Always Rational?

I always found the appeal to the market gods a bit odd. Why would the market fix mistakes instead of aggravating them? Read More

Books by Dan Ariely

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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