Topic: Behavioral Decision Making
Like Checking the Weather: Air-Quality App Charts Local Pollution
Information helps users decide when, and whether, to venture outside or exercise
Major Adolescent Stress Reduces Connection to Future Self
And thinking less about one’s adult life can reduce the pursuit of higher education
Matching Incentives with the Right Relationship
The kind of reward matters less than the type of connection between giver and recipient
Mobile Workers More Likely to Cold-Shoulder a Dishonest Co-Worker
Research compares U.S. behavior to norms in Asia
Modest Financial Incentives Help with Weight Loss
Tying payments to weight, rather than behaviors, marginally more effective
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
Motivating Households in India to Reduce Energy Consumption
The same message that works with U.S. households is effective in the developing world
Motivating Workers with a Sacred Symbol: Promise and Peril
A Chinese garment factory tidied up after golden coins were displayed
Motivation to Begin or an Excuse to Slack Off?
Fresh-start dates can serve as either — it’s a two-way nudge
Narrowing a Theory on Why Judges Get Tough before Elections
They do, but only when facing a competitive election contest
New Study Disavows Marshmallow Test’s Predictive Powers
Test’s originator was a central co-author but died before its completion
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
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
Old Ways of Thinking Cause Managers to Disregard Analytics
Highlighting the right data and making it relevant can help overcome resistance
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
Overcoming Obstacles to Taking Better Care of Your Future Self
Hal Hershfield’s book offers research-backed methods to build a healthier, happier, more financially secure life