Most Popular Articles of 2018
Here are the 10 pieces we published this year that readers like you read most often.
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Editors’ Picks for 2018: Captivating Behavioral Science Pieces
Some of our favorite behavioral science reads from 2018.
Simple Heuristics That Make Algorithms Smart
Although simple heuristics often yield “biased” decisions, they can deliver a better answers. What might this mean for today’s complex algorithms?
What We're Reading
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The Electric Forest Acid Testers
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Pacific Standard -
A Climate-Friendly Financial System
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Project Syndicate -
Sentencing Reform Update: The Economic Case for the “First Step Act”
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Econofact -
Is Environmentalism Just for Rich People?
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The New York Times -
Huge Brain Study Uncovers “Buried” Genetic Networks Linked to Mental Illness
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Nature
Featured
The Case for Handgun Waiting Periods
A mandatory waiting period before buying a handgun actually enjoys widespread support. What’s more, behavioral science backs it up too.
The $2 Million Urinal: Why Hard Work Doesn’t Cut It
The art world is a wonderful illustration of the First Law of Success. (Hint: It’s not talent or hard work.)
A Tale of Two Systems: 19th Century Behavioral Insights From Poe, Austen, and Dickens
Literature can open up a wider range of examples that illustrate core behavioral science principles.
Cam’s Reads: I’m Not Listening…To Me
Five articles for your reading pleasure, on topics including the banality of the phrase banality of evil, why office snacks are an issue, how to quantify awe, and more.
A Tale of Two Systems: What Can Behavioral Science Learn From Literature?
Behavioral scientists take pride in the interdisciplinary nature of our research, yet we rarely draw on accounts of human nature generated outside of the social sciences.
A Fresh Approach to Understanding Sexual Assault: A Conversation with Betsy Levy Paluck
The stories we tell about sexual assault—the lone, serial predator—oversimplifies the truth and obscures the solution. Betsy Levy Paluck is one of the researchers trying to tell a more accurate story.
Research Lead: The Illusion That’s Impossible to Shake, a 21st Century Trolley Problem, and More
We are excited to introduce a new feature, the Research Lead. Each month, we will highlight a handful of academic papers that we find interesting and important.
Knowing When Tech Does (and Doesn’t) Promote Positive Relationships
Could teenagers actually be getting something meaningful and real out of all that texting?
