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Scott Rick Ph.D.

About

Scott Rick, Ph.D., is a marketing professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He holds a Ph.D. in Behavioral Decision Research from Carnegie Mellon University, where he was a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow. Before joining Michigan Ross, he spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Rick routinely teaches courses on consumer behavior, judgment and decision-making, and marketing management. His research is interdisciplinary by nature, and he has published in premier journals spanning marketing, psychology, economics, and neuroscience. At the University of Michigan, he has won awards for both research and teaching. Rick's research has been covered extensively in outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and NPR. His first book, Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships, was published in 2024 by St. Martin’s Press.

Books by Scott Rick Ph.D.
Recent Posts
What's Your Hurry?
Procrastination is widespread and costly. But new research suggests that the desire to complete unpleasant tasks can sometimes cause us to “pre-crastinate,” wasting effort by beginning tasks too soon.
I Love You. Here’s a $25 Olive Garden Gift Card.
Soon, it seems, most gifts will be gift cards. Despite the fact that some gift cards are thoughtfully selected by givers who want to ensure that their recipient finds something they like, there are a number of reasons why gift card givers don’t get the credit they should.
What Does It Mean to Be a Saver?

We are often categorized (by ourselves, our friends, our spouses, or online quizzes) as “savers” or “spenders.” But is there widespread agreement about what these terms mean? In this post, I consider what it means to be a saver.

We are often categorized (by ourselves, our friends, our spouses, or online quizzes) as “savers” or “spenders.” But is there widespread agreement about what these terms mean? In this post, I consider what it means to be a saver.

Don’t Forget the Milk (and the Charitable Donation)

Grocery store cashiers sometimes ask customers if they’d like to make a small charitable donation. Customers who comply with such requests may feel licensed to misbehave elsewhere.

Grocery store cashiers sometimes ask customers if they’d like to make a small charitable donation. Customers who comply with such requests may feel licensed to misbehave elsewhere.

Salary Differences Between Employees Can Encourage Cheating

Wage and salary differences within an organization are sometimes publicly known. How does this information influence the ethical behavior of employees?

Wage and salary differences within an organization are sometimes publicly known. How does this information influence the ethical behavior of employees?

The Psychology of Bidding on The Price is Right

Making it onto stage on The Price is Right might require bidding strategies that are rational but feel mean. When do social preferences override the desire to win?

Making it onto stage on The Price is Right might require bidding strategies that are rational but feel mean. When do social preferences override the desire to win?

Why We Overspend With Credit

Using credit to make purchases causes many people to spend more than they would have if they had used cash. What emotional and cognitive forces contribute to this bias, and what can be done to curb it?

Using credit to make purchases causes many people to spend more than they would have if they had used cash. What emotional and cognitive forces contribute to this bias, and what can be done to curb it?

Fatal (Fiscal) Attraction

Typically, birds of a feather flock together. But when it comes to money, tightwads tend to marry spendthrifts. Is this good for marriages?

Typically, birds of a feather flock together. But when it comes to money, tightwads tend to marry spendthrifts. Is this good for marriages?