Mind, Brain, and Value

Heuristics

The Psychology of Lumping and Splitting

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on March 25, 2024

How do we make sense of new experiences? Ultimately, it's about how we categorize them—which we often do by "lumping" or "splitting" them.

How do we make sense of new experiences? Ultimately, it's about how we categorize them—which we often do by "lumping" or "splitting" them.

Consumer Behavior

What the Cobra Effect Teaches Us About Reward Psychology

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on February 13, 2024

What began as a simple anti-snake campaign ended in a slithery disaster. What does the cobra effect teach us about the psychology of rewards?

What began as a simple anti-snake campaign ended in a slithery disaster. What does the cobra effect teach us about the psychology of rewards?

Consumer Behavior

The Psychology Behind Symbolic Products

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on January 4, 2024

From social status to environmental values, products help us say things we can't say ourselves.

From social status to environmental values, products help us say things we can't say ourselves.

Consumer Behavior

The Surprising Psychology of Christmas Advertisements

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on December 4, 2023

Christmas is big business, and its not just about gift-giving and seasonal shopping.

Christmas is big business, and its not just about gift-giving and seasonal shopping.

Behavioral Economics

The Surprising Psychology of Milk Tea

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on August 31, 2023

At first glance, milk tea is about pure enjoyment. But beneath the smiles lies a deeper psychology.

At first glance, milk tea is about pure enjoyment. But beneath the smiles lies a deeper psychology.

Consumer Behavior

What Britney Spears' Chewing Gum Teaches Us About Marketing

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on July 30, 2023

We tend to see and appreciate the hidden "soul" in otherwise ordinary objects. And in the consumer world, this drives us to buy.

We tend to see and appreciate the hidden "soul" in otherwise ordinary objects. And in the consumer world, this drives us to buy.

Consumer Behavior

Why Some People Still Love Physical Products

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on June 19, 2023

How can the physical world compete with the convenience of the digital world? It all comes down to symbolism and social identity.

How can the physical world compete with the convenience of the digital world? It all comes down to symbolism and social identity.

Motivation

How Brands Tap Into Deeper Emotions

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on June 5, 2023

Why do you love the brands you love? It all comes down to how they connect with deeper, emotional motivations.

Why do you love the brands you love? It all comes down to how they connect with deeper, emotional motivations.

Attention

The Psychology of How Marketing Captures Our Attention

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on March 23, 2023

Why do we stop at some ads but not others? Or look at some billboards, but not others? It all comes down to the psychology of attention.

Why do we stop at some ads but not others? Or look at some billboards, but not others? It all comes down to the psychology of attention.

Cognition

The Psychology of Death Rituals

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on March 20, 2023

Throughout time and across cultures, it's relatively rare for there to be a strict divide between life and death. How do death rituals impact our attitudes toward the dead?

Throughout time and across cultures, it's relatively rare for there to be a strict divide between life and death. How do death rituals impact our attitudes toward the dead?

Cognition

How We View the Minds of the Dead

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on March 19, 2023

How do we think about the deceased? Social psychology helps unpack this mystery.

How do we think about the deceased? Social psychology helps unpack this mystery.

Neuroscience

How Hans Berger and EEG Revolutionized Psychological Science

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on March 13, 2023

How did psychology become the rich, scientific field that it is today? It all comes down to electricity, irrationality, and exceptional timing.

How did psychology become the rich, scientific field that it is today? It all comes down to electricity, irrationality, and exceptional timing.

Neuroscience

How Hans Berger's Irrationality Changed Psychology Forever

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on March 12, 2023

Hans Berger was searching for telepathy. What he found was much more powerful.

Hans Berger was searching for telepathy. What he found was much more powerful.

Anthropomorphism

Why Do We Anthropomorphize Corporations?

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on February 7, 2023

Corporations are people, too—at least in how we see their personalities.

Corporations are people, too—at least in how we see their personalities.

Career

Why Loyalty Cards Don't Work

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on December 30, 2022

Companies invest billions of dollars each year in loyalty programs. But do they work?

Companies invest billions of dollars each year in loyalty programs. But do they work?

Consumer Behavior

What Marketers Can Learn From Social and Cultural Psychology

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on September 28, 2022

When it comes to understanding consumers, behavioral economics is just the start. Here's what else marketing can learn from psychology.

When it comes to understanding consumers, behavioral economics is just the start. Here's what else marketing can learn from psychology.

Philosophy

Wabi-Sabi and the Psychology of Imperfection

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on July 5, 2022

What can the ancient Japanese concept of wabi-sabi teach us about navigating the modern world?

What can the ancient Japanese concept of wabi-sabi teach us about navigating the modern world?

Fantasies

The Effects on Consumers of Augmented and Virtual Reality

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on April 27, 2022

The potential for virtual and augmented reality remains huge. But first we need to understand the different ways they impact human psychology.

The potential for virtual and augmented reality remains huge. But first we need to understand the different ways they impact human psychology.

Friends

Why Taking Photos Can Backfire

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on April 13, 2022

A picture says a thousand words. But research suggests that the act of taking photos to share can actually reduce our enjoyment of an experience.

A picture says a thousand words. But research suggests that the act of taking photos to share can actually reduce our enjoyment of an experience.

Halo Effect

How Psychology Can Help the Perception of Green Products

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on April 1, 2022

We tend to assume sustainable products don't perform as well. But new research suggests sustainability can actually boost perceived product performance.

We tend to assume sustainable products don't perform as well. But new research suggests sustainability can actually boost perceived product performance.