It’s all about the reward
decision-making
Why People Stick with Cancer Screening, Even When It Causes Harm
When it comes to complex medical decisions, cold hard statistics may hold little sway over patients in the face of a single, compelling anecdote.
When Lunch Is Served, So Is Justice
“There’s an old trope that says justice is ‘what the judge ate for breakfast,’” writes Ed Yong on Discover Magazine’s “Not Exactly Rocket Science” blog — which is to say that “the law, being a human concoction, is subject to …
Do People Really Make Life Decisions Based On Their Names?
What’s in a name? Letters that offer clues to one’s future decisions, apparently.
Trick to Improving Your Odds in Vegas: Get a Full Night’s Sleep
Anecdotally, we know we make worse decisions when we’re tired than after a good night’s sleep. Now, a new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience puts a finer point on the link between sleep deprivation and unwise …
Young Adults Choose Self-Esteem Boost Over Sex and Money
It’s hard to imagine anything young people might value more than food, getting an extra paycheck or even having sex, but according to the results of a recent study in the Journal of Personality there is one thing prized most …
World Too Confusing? Trust Your Gut
Malcom Gladwell makes it sound so easy. Need a burst of insight or inspiration? Just blink and the truth will reveal itself to you.
Low blood sugar? You may opt for instant gratification
Beyond making you cranky and impatient, it turns out that being hungry—or more specifically, having low blood sugar—may actually change the way that you make decisions. In a new study published in the journal Psychological Science, University of South Dakota researchers X.T. Wang and Robert D. Dvorak found that people with lower
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