On the Quest for Originality, Recombine the Familiar
Most of the time, success comes from a well-placed tweak, a novel combination of two or more existing elements, or the better version of an idea or product not yet perfected.
Commentary
Latest Stories
God of the Gaps: How the Supernatural Explains What We Can’t
Humans turn to the supernatural to explain both natural and social phenomena when we can’t point to a clear human cause. But supernatural explanations are more common for natural than for social phenomena. Why?
Five Enablers for a New Phase of Behavioral Science
Writing reports and setting goals is the easy part. Turning those goals into practice is much tougher; as behavioral scientists know, there is often a gap between intention and action.
Older Stories
Tips, Clicks, and Charitable Gifts: The Persuasive Impact of a Single Touch
Restaurant servers, canvassers, and robot elderly care assistants may all be a single touch on the hand away from greater satisfaction, engagement, and compliance.
An Extraordinary Story for the U.S. Supreme Court, an Ordinary One for Human Psychology
Even if Justice Clarence Thomas genuinely believes that Harlan Crow’s largess would have no effect on his judicial opinions, our research suggests that he is likely wrong.
Give More Feedback—Others Want It More Than You Think
People hesitate to give feedback because they simply don’t recognize how much other people want to hear it.