Dan Ariely

Professor of Behavioral Economics, Duke University

Dan Ariely is the James B Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University. He is the founder of The Center for Advanced Hindsight and co-founder of BEworks, which helps business leaders apply scientific thinking to their marketing and operational challenges. His books include Predictably Irrational and The Upside of Irrationality, both of which became New York Times best-sellers. as well as The Honest Truth about Dishonesty and his latest, Irrationally Yours.

Ariely publishes widely in the leading scholarly journals in economics, psychology, and business. His work has been featured in a variety of media including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Business 2.0, Scientific American, Science and CNN.

Everything Videos Articles

Focus Groups Aren’t as Useful as Companies Think

Polling random people can be “incredibly useful as a persuasive attempt to tell people what to do,” but not really as a way to find out information.

Trust and Revenge Are Irrational—But Vital to Our Society

The world would be a terrible place if everybody acted rationally all the time.

How We Overvalue the Things We Create

Ariely’s “IKEA effect”: Not only do we like things that we make more than similar things made by others—but we think other people should value them more as well.

Who you find attractive is based on how hot you are

People who are very attractive care more about attractiveness in a mate, while unattractive people want a partner who is kind and has a good sense of humor.

Why Online Dating Is So Unsatisfying

Online dating could be a crucial tool for single people, but with the sites we have now you’ll likely spend six hours searching for every date you go on.

A conversation with Dan Ariely, James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University

A conversation with the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University.

Using Guilt to Save Energy

Behavioral Psychologist Dan Ariely has some ideas on how to get us to reduce our carbon footprints.

Dan Ariely’s Biggest Spending Mistake

After seven years of grad school, the behavioral psychologist was unaccustomed to splurging.

Coffee or Health Insurance?

We all have those friends who are cheap when it comes to some things, and spend a lot on other things. Dan Ariely explains the root of their problem.

Making Money Less Abstract

We can learn to compare each dollar we spend to a trip to the Bahamas or a latte, and weigh its value accordingly

Why Talking About Money Is No Longer Taboo

What will happen to risk tasking and consumption now that we’ve suffered through the economic downturn? One thing’s for sure: people aren’t afraid to talk money anymore.

In America, It’s Do What You Want

The US ideology of independence greatly hinders fiscal responsibility.

Why Americans Don’t Save

It’s a combination between being unable to envision the future, and having banks that don’t help us out at all.

A conversation with Dan Ariely, Author of Predictably Irrational

A conversation with the Behavioral Economist and Author of Predictably Irrational.

How Do You Motivate Your Staff? Hint: It’s Not Always Money

Duke economist Dan Ariely warns that monetary incentives can destroy quality of work. He also believes there are often alternatives to layoffs.

Why Anxious Societies Spend Less

He blames human emotion for the sinking economy.

How Behavioral Economics Can Boost Your Bottom Line

It’s a challenge for companies to get feedback that allows them to make changes, says Duke economist Dan Ariely.

What Is Behavioral Economics?

Duke professor Dan Ariely has little faith in human rationality.

When Free is Dangerous

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely worries about the consequences of giving away products and services online.

Dan Ariely: My Biggest Career Mistake

The behavioral economist reflects upon the day that his emotions got the best of him.

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