The Ant and the Grasshopper

Cognition

Does Language Shape How We Think About the Future?

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on August 14, 2025

Some languages, like English, require a future tense, while others do not. Does that affect how speakers make decisions about the future?

Some languages, like English, require a future tense, while others do not. Does that affect how speakers make decisions about the future?

OCD

People With OCD Do Not Overvalue Immediate Rewards

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on November 30, 2024

A new study finds that people with OCD, despite feeling compelled to perform rituals in response to their obsessions, are just as willing to delay gratification as everyone else.

A new study finds that people with OCD, despite feeling compelled to perform rituals in response to their obsessions, are just as willing to delay gratification as everyone else.

Self-Control

Can Reminiscing About the Past Make Us Less Impulsive?

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on May 17, 2024

A few studies have suggested that recalling the past with fondness and gratitude can increase self-control, but a recent meta-analysis challenges this idea.

A few studies have suggested that recalling the past with fondness and gratitude can increase self-control, but a recent meta-analysis challenges this idea.

Behavioral Economics

What Daniel Kahneman Taught Me

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on April 1, 2024

Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel Prize-winning psychologist, passed away last week. Here are some of the lessons we can learn from his research and his career.

Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel Prize-winning psychologist, passed away last week. Here are some of the lessons we can learn from his research and his career.

Self-Control

Delayed Gratification: Is It About Self-Control or Culture?

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on August 9, 2023

Recent research shows that the ability to delay gratification may depend in part on cultural norms about what people usually wait for.

Recent research shows that the ability to delay gratification may depend in part on cultural norms about what people usually wait for.

Decision-Making

Making Decisions: We Generate Options Before Deciding

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on July 7, 2023

Recent research has focused on what makes some options come to mind more easily. Since most decisions are open-ended, this work has powerful implications for making decisions.

Recent research has focused on what makes some options come to mind more easily. Since most decisions are open-ended, this work has powerful implications for making decisions.

Decision-Making

What's Really Worth Waiting For?

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on May 25, 2023

Do you quit waiting for things when you don't know how long they will take? Do you step out of lines or cancel rides? It doesn't mean you lack self-control. Here's why.

Do you quit waiting for things when you don't know how long they will take? Do you step out of lines or cancel rides? It doesn't mean you lack self-control. Here's why.

Decision-Making

Bad News: Negativity Increases Online News Consumption

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on March 19, 2023

If a headline makes you sad, you may be more likely to read the news story. Experimental evidence from real-world online news consumption data finds that emotion drives clicks.

If a headline makes you sad, you may be more likely to read the news story. Experimental evidence from real-world online news consumption data finds that emotion drives clicks.

Animal Behavior

Why We Think Things Could Always Be Better

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on December 7, 2022

Wondering why you are never satisfied with what you already have? It might be because we tend to imagine how things could be better, rather than worse.

Wondering why you are never satisfied with what you already have? It might be because we tend to imagine how things could be better, rather than worse.

Memory

As We Get Older, We Overlook Past Slights

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on October 11, 2022

Older adults are more likely to fail to avoid others who were previously unfair.

Older adults are more likely to fail to avoid others who were previously unfair.

Neuroscience

The Greatest Human Invention?

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on September 20, 2022

A fascinating new book, "The Invention of Tomorrow," takes a deep dive into the origins and functions of the human capacity for foresight.

A fascinating new book, "The Invention of Tomorrow," takes a deep dive into the origins and functions of the human capacity for foresight.

Bias

Financial Impatience Across the Globe

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on July 16, 2022

A new study found that financial impatience is practically universal, but economic inequality and inflation exacerbate this tendency.

A new study found that financial impatience is practically universal, but economic inequality and inflation exacerbate this tendency.

Intuition

When to Go With Your Gut and Be True to Yourself

Karolina Lempert Ph.D. on June 15, 2022

Should you make decisions using intuition or deliberation? It may depend on the type of decision you must make.

Should you make decisions using intuition or deliberation? It may depend on the type of decision you must make.