Behavioral Scientist

03/28/2025

“As long as the negativity doesn’t become so overwhelming as to be paralyzing, imagining a dark future can be motivating.”

How Do You Become More Conscientious When You’re Not Conscientious Already?
By Olga Khazan

The easiest way to become more conscientious is to already be conscientious—last week’s to-do list makes writing this week’s easier. But if you can’t lean on your past self, considering your future self can help.

03/28/2025

In the newest episode of What It’s Like to Be… Dan Heath drills into the world of brain surgery. He speaks with Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa about life as a neurosurgeon, including zapping parts of the brain to know where to cut, operating a mouth-controlled microscope worth more than a house, and carrying the weight of life-or-death decisions.

Zapping parts of the brain to know where to cut, operating a mouth-controlled microscope that's worth more than a house, and carrying the weight of life-or-death decisions with Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, a brain surgeon at the Mayo Clinic.

03/27/2025

Last year, we collected over 30 memories and lessons from Daniel Kahneman’s closest colleagues and collaborators, and those in the field most influenced by his work. Our goal was to celebrate his impact and learn more about the scientist behind the science. As we mark the one year anniversary of his death, take a moment to revisit those memories and lessons.

A collection of memories and lessons from Daniel Kahneman's close collaborators and colleagues. Learn more about Kahneman the thinker, the coauthor, the writer, as well as Kahneman the partner, mentor, and friend.

03/26/2025

How do you become more conscientious…if you’re not conscientious already?

It’s a classic catch-22: The very behaviors that build conscientiousness often require conscientiousness to begin with. What to do?

This week, Olga Khazan explores how fear, imagination, a few missed deadlines, and some interesting research helped shift her mindset.

The easiest way to become more conscientious is to already be conscientious—last week’s to-do list makes writing this week’s easier. But if you can’t lean on your past self, considering your future self can help.

03/26/2025

“The World According to the Oligarchs,” by Simon Johnson for Project Syndicate plus more of the articles we're reading this week: https://behavioralscientist.org/what-were-reading/

03/25/2025

“The very behaviors that turn you conscientious require a certain level of conscientiousness to perform.”

In her latest piece, Olga Khazan tackles the paradox of conscientiousness and how tools like episodic future thinking (even the negative kind) helped her go from a mail-ignoring, Pop-Tart-sprinting student to an adult who shows up on time.

The easiest way to become more conscientious is to already be conscientious—last week’s to-do list makes writing this week’s easier. But if you can’t lean on your past self, considering your future self can help.

03/24/2025

Check out our latest Email Edition: How Do You Become More Conscientious When You’re Not Already? Plus, The Magic of Knowing When to Use Concrete vs. Abstract Language, what we're reading, and more: https://mailchi.mp/behavioralscientist/nr-how-do-you-become-more-conscientious-when-youre-not-conscientious-already

03/22/2025

ICYMI: We Still Underestimate Others’ Support for Climate Action

People think they’re more alone in supporting climate-positive action than they really are. That’s a problem, because we know people are likely to take action when they believe others are already doing so.

People think they’re more alone in supporting climate-positive action than they really are. That’s a problem, because we know people are likely to take action when they believe others are already doing so.

03/22/2025

Identifying errors in judgment and choice wasn’t just the focus of Daniel Kahneman’s research; it was something Kahneman seemed called to do, particularly as it applied to his own thinking.

“I get a sense of movement and discovery whenever I find a flaw in my thinking,” he said.

As we mark the first year of his passing, we invite you to revisit, “A Mosaic of Memories and Lessons” remembering Daniel Kahneman.

A collection of memories and lessons from Daniel Kahneman's close collaborators and colleagues. Learn more about Kahneman the thinker, the coauthor, the writer, as well as Kahneman the partner, mentor, and friend.

03/21/2025

Last year, we collected over 30 memories and lessons from Daniel Kahneman’s closest colleagues and collaborators, and those in the field most influenced by his work. Our goal was to mark his impact and learn more about the scientist behind the science. As we approach the one year anniversary of his death, take a moment to revisit those memories and lessons.

A collection of memories and lessons from Daniel Kahneman's close collaborators and colleagues. Learn more about Kahneman the thinker, the coauthor, the writer, as well as Kahneman the partner, mentor, and friend.

03/20/2025

This week, we revisit our collection remembering Nobel Prize winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman, as we approach the one year anniversary of his death. Kahneman, who passed away at the age of 90 last March, was a towering figure in the field. His research transformed psychology and economics, and rippled through fields as diverse as public policy, finance, health, and education.

A collection of memories and lessons from Daniel Kahneman's close collaborators and colleagues. Learn more about Kahneman the thinker, the coauthor, the writer, as well as Kahneman the partner, mentor, and friend.

03/20/2025

"Finding out that I was wrong is the only way I’m sure that I’ve learned anything." – Daniel Kahneman

The Nobel laureate and pioneer of human decision-making spent his career uncovering the heuristics biases that shape human judgment—including his own. On the anniversary of his passing, we’re revisiting a collection of memories and lessons shared by those who knew and worked with him.

A collection of memories and lessons from Daniel Kahneman's close collaborators and colleagues. Learn more about Kahneman the thinker, the coauthor, the writer, as well as Kahneman the partner, mentor, and friend.

03/19/2025

“A New Scientific Field Is Recasting Who We Are and How We Got That Way”
By Dalton Conley for The New York Times, plus more of the articles we're reading this week: https://behavioralscientist.org/what-were-reading/

03/18/2025

Daniel Kahneman spent his career studying how we think and make decisions—when intuition leads us astray, when careful reasoning prevails, and why we often misjudge risk and reward. A year after his death, his work continues to shape behavioral science and beyond.

To mark the anniversary of his passing, we’re revisiting a collection of memories from from those who knew him best, offering insights into the mind behind Thinking, Fast and Slow.

A collection of memories and lessons from Daniel Kahneman's close collaborators and colleagues. Learn more about Kahneman the thinker, the coauthor, the writer, as well as Kahneman the partner, mentor, and friend.

03/18/2025

As we approach the one-year anniversary of Daniel Kahneman's passing, we’re revisiting a collection of reflections from those who knew and worked with him. Originally published last year, this mosaic of memories captures his intellectual generosity, relentless pursuit of clarity, and deep willingness to change his mind—qualities that shaped both his work and life.

Read more: https://mailchi.mp/behavioralscientist/nr-remembering-daniel-kahneman-one-year-after-his-death

03/15/2025

People think they’re more alone in supporting climate-positive action than they really are. That’s a problem, because we know people are likely to take action when they believe others are already doing so.

03/14/2025

ICYMI: Most Americans Dislike Income Inequality. But They Disagree About Who Should Fix It.

Americans are more critical of the wealthy and less tolerant of income inequality than many believe. So why has inequality persisted and worsened?

Americans are more critical of the wealthy and less tolerant of income inequality than many believe. So why has inequality persisted and worsened?

03/14/2025

Most Americans support climate action — but think they’re alone.

Many Americans back policies like EV rebates and solar incentives, but they underestimate how much others do. This “normative bubble” discourages action—if people think climate-friendly choices aren’t widely supported, they’re less likely to adopt them.

At the same time, confidence in taking climate action is declining. Concerns about costs, logistics, and red tape are making solutions like installing solar or buying an EV feel out of reach.

Popping this normative bubble is the key to taking us out of the early adopter phase for many impactful climate behaviors.

Read more here: https://behavioralscientist.org/we-still-underestimate-others-support-for-climate-action/