The Edge of Choice

Fear

Would You Rather Travel to the Past or to the Future?

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on October 28, 2013

What correlates with a desire to travel to the past or the future?

What correlates with a desire to travel to the past or the future?

Grief

Why Do We Engage in Rituals?

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on August 29, 2013

What are the ways that rituals can change our lives?

What are the ways that rituals can change our lives?

Projection

How Does Hot Weather Affect Decisions?

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on July 18, 2013

Weather affects the things we buy, but not in the obvious ways you might expect.

Weather affects the things we buy, but not in the obvious ways you might expect.

Relationships

What Might Have Been and What Could Be

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on June 14, 2013

Thinking about what might have been and what might be can change the way we feel and the actions we take.

Thinking about what might have been and what might be can change the way we feel and the actions we take.

Happiness

Serious Busyness

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on May 13, 2013

How do we deal with idleness, and does that change the way we feel?

How do we deal with idleness, and does that change the way we feel?

Happiness

Savoring: Explaining the Happiness-Wealth Relationship

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on April 4, 2013

The ability to prolong and enhance experiences might help explain the link between money and happiness

The ability to prolong and enhance experiences might help explain the link between money and happiness

Happiness

Does More Money Make You Happier?

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on March 8, 2013

What new research says about the surprising link between income and happiness.

What new research says about the surprising link between income and happiness.

Cognition

Breathe Deep...?

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on February 12, 2013

Should you relax before making a big purchase or decision?

Should you relax before making a big purchase or decision?

Cognition

Where There's An "I Will" There's a Way

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on January 14, 2013

How can the form of language that you use impact motivation and happiness?

How can the form of language that you use impact motivation and happiness?

Cognition

Holiday Spending Tips

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on December 14, 2012

What does recent research say about spending wisely (and more happily) at the holidays?

What does recent research say about spending wisely (and more happily) at the holidays?

Cognition

A Sweet Past

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on November 10, 2012

Feeling some degree of connection with the past makes us happier. But what happens when our sense of continuity is disrupted?

Feeling some degree of connection with the past makes us happier. But what happens when our sense of continuity is disrupted?

Leadership

Playing Small Ball

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on October 10, 2012

When we set out to accomplish a goal, do small victories help win the war?

When we set out to accomplish a goal, do small victories help win the war?

Relationships

That Wasn't Really Me

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on September 7, 2012

One of the most well-validated findings in psychology is that people in our culture have a very strong desire to feel good about themselves. But are we similarly motivated to feel good about our past selves? Research suggests that the complicated relationship we have with our past self can alter how we feel today.

One of the most well-validated findings in psychology is that people in our culture have a very strong desire to feel good about themselves. But are we similarly motivated to feel good about our past selves? Research suggests that the complicated relationship we have with our past self can alter how we feel today.

Why do some events feel like they happened a long time ago, while others seem like they occurred just yesterday?

Neuroscience

The Way We Spend Impacts How We Spend

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on July 10, 2012

Research conducted over the last several decades in offers some insights into why certain forms of payment hurt less, and how we can change our spending patterns as a result.

Research conducted over the last several decades in offers some insights into why certain forms of payment hurt less, and how we can change our spending patterns as a result.

Depression

Does Feeling Sad Mean Being Wiser?

Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D. on June 8, 2012

Does sadness truly promote wise choices, as the old aphorism suggests? New research indicates that it might not.

Does sadness truly promote wise choices, as the old aphorism suggests? New research indicates that it might not.