Topic: Behavioral Decision Making
People Prioritize Shared Experiences, Even When Apart
People will endure inconvenience to synchronize events, regardless of proximity
People Don’t Mind Government Nudges, but Prefer Them Free of Politics
When an unloved cause or political adversary is attached to a nudge, the method itself becomes suspect
Patience Is a Virtue — Up to a Certain Point
The happiest people are moderately patient, not into extreme delayed gratification
Our Flawed Pursuit of Happiness — and How to Get It Right
New approaches to spending and time-management examine how our actions do or don't influence our level of satisfaction
Old Ways of Thinking Cause Managers to Disregard Analytics
Highlighting the right data and making it relevant can help overcome resistance
Not Now: Correcting Imbalance in One’s Schedule Takes Planning and Time
People across studies want to change their lives, but are more inclined to do that in the distant future
Not All Second Chances Are Good Ones
Hengchen Dai finds that hitting the reset button can help those who have recently struggled, but erodes the motivation and execution of top performers
New Study Disavows Marshmallow Test’s Predictive Powers
Test's originator was a central co-author but died before its completion
Narrowing a Theory on Why Judges Get Tough before Elections
They do, but only when facing a competitive election contest
Motivation to Begin or an Excuse to Slack Off?
Fresh-start dates can serve as either — it’s a two-way nudge
Motivating Workers with a Sacred Symbol: Promise and Peril
A Chinese garment factory tidied up after golden coins were displayed
Motivating Households in India to Reduce Energy Consumption
The same message that works with U.S. households is effective in the developing world
Momentum Investing: It Works, But Why?
After a quarter century of sprawling study, it’s time to narrow the focus and settle on an explanation
Modest Financial Incentives Help with Weight Loss
Tying payments to weight, rather than behaviors, marginally more effective
Mobile Workers More Likely to Cold-Shoulder a Dishonest Co-Worker
Research compares U.S. behavior to norms in Asia
Matching Incentives with the Right Relationship
The kind of reward matters less than the type of connection between giver and recipient