Choiceology with Katy Milkman

In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at how framing a decision based on what you stand to lose versus what you stand to gain affects your tolerance of risk. Luis Green was a contestant on the popular TV game show Deal or No Deal. The game is largely one of chance, but there are moments during play

When someone asks, "What's your favorite restaurant?" odds are you're inclined to recommend a place you've eaten at recently—even if it's not really your favorite.  It's just top of mind.  Why do we weigh recent events so heavily? And how does this tendency impact important decisions, like whom to vote for or how to co

Vitamin C is a cure for the common cold. Bats are blind. Sugar makes children hyperactive. All of these statements are false. So why are they so pervasive? And why do they feel so true? In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at a phenomenon that can cause us to believe inaccurate information more tha

Curious what it would be like to walk in someone else's (work) shoes? Join New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath as he explores the world of work, one profession at a time, and interviews people who love what they do. What does a couples therapist think when a friend asks for relationship advice? What happens if

Filling out an overly complicated form or waiting on hold for hours to speak with a customer service rep is a frustrating experience. And sometimes it seems like the process itself is designed to be difficult. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at how friction––time, distance, complexity, or anyt

A train was speeding along the tracks in 19th-century England when a passenger suddenly started smashing windows and waving a pistol in the air. People believed his actions were caused by what was, at the time, a new and unfamiliar form of transportation. Doctors posited the rattling motion and noise of trains could ca