The Future's Not Ours to See

We're great at explaining big events and personal circumstances, after the fact. That's because we know how to pick and choose the right details to fit a narrative. When it comes to actually predicting what will happen to us, and how we'll feel, our crystal balls are pretty cloudy.

Can You Predict the Future?

A new study aims to find out. You can participate.
by Ben Y. Hayden, Ph.D.

Why We're Terrible Predictors

Duncan Watts shares his compelling take-down of common sense.
by Carlin Flora

Why We Fail To Predict Our Own Happiness

Faulty memory makes it hard to predict your future happiness.
by Art Markman, Ph.D.

No, You Don't Know How You'll React

Is there a difference between anticipating and witnessing racism?
by Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, Ph.D.

Magical Thinking

Think you don't believe in magic? Think again. Our brains are designed to pick up on patterns: Making connections helped our ancestors survive. You're not crazy if you're fond of jinxes, lucky charms, premonitions, wish fulfillment, or karma. You're just human.

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Affective Forecasting

Affective forecasting is predicting how you will feel in the future. As it turns out, we're terrible at it. We're not good judges of what will make us happy, and we have trouble seeing through the filter of the now. Our feelings in the present blind us to how we'll make decisions in the future when we might be feeling differently.

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Fantasies

Fantasies are not frivolous. They can be entertaining, distracting, frightening, even arousing, but they also allow for creativity and help us plan for the future.

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Behavioral Economics

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.

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