Is a generous act still generous if the giver demands recognition? Is selfless behavior still selfless if it’s caused by a stroke? Generosity means “giving good things to others freely and abundantly”, and it’s basically the defining characteristic of the holiday season. Psychological, social, and situational factors can influence how…
The Black Friday shopping experience can be particularly stressful for people with anxiety due to sensory overload and consumer persuasion techniques. Marketers promote the illusion of scarcity during the height of the holiday shopping season, leading to additional anxiety and urgency. Anxious people can still shop pleasurably in person on…
Black Friday and Cyber Monday loom as some of the biggest retail holidays of the year. As with last year, most shoppers will be purchasing items online. For those with online shopping addictions or who struggle to control their spending habits, the holidays can be a difficult time to resist…
Relationship conflict comes from an infinite variety of sources, but lifestyle differences can be especially hard to manage. There are practical ways to deal with compatibility issues between vegetarians/vegans and carnivores, significant others with low sex drives and high sex drives, and couples from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Communication, compromise, and…
It may be possible to live like a rich person even when you’re on a budget. The hedonic treadmill influences how much money you need to feel wealthy. High-net-worth individuals tend to have low neuroticism and an internal locus of control. You can feel rich by spending money on experiences,…
It’s not always obvious when our cognitive biases are being manipulated by digital marketers and neuromarketing experts. Retail websites use a variety of psychological tactics to persuade consumers to buy their products. Occasionally these tactics stray into manipulative territory, for example when websites use dark patterns, greenwashing, and price discrimination. …
Remember when you thought you’d graduate high school or college and land your dream job making at least six figures, right out of the gate? Well, chances are you’re a few years down the road from that, still busting your tail to buy that new jacket you’ve had your eye…
Anything money-related can be a major stressor — whether it’s budgeting or managing debt. Unfortunately, this can impact your life negatively in a number of ways, be it in your personal relationships or your work-life. In fact, you might actually be one of the millions of people here in the…
Money (and the financial stress that often accompanies it) can take a big toll on a marriage. In fact, one of the leading causes of divorce is finances. While it may be a heated topic, there are practical steps you can take to alleviate the stress money may be having…
Just this past weekend, I was playing the classic game of “Would You Rather” with a few close friends when an ever-popular question was proposed: would you rather have a low-paying job that you love or a high-paying job that you hate? Some of us declared our answers immediately, while…