BRAIN WAVES
Shop ‘til you drop. Black Friday is nearly upon us, which means we’ll all be swept up in a shopping frenzy, right? Maybe, but there’s hope. Ying Zeng, a marketing professor at the Leeds School of Business, says that the holiday shopping season can turn rational consumers into impulsive shoppers, making us vulnerable to a handful of decision-making blunders: mental accounting, future discounting, and all kinds of emotional biases. This happens partly because we see Black Friday as a “special occasion,” which gives the day an emotional significance. This makes it easy to prioritize the specialness over our finances. Of course, retailers take advantage of these tendencies, but Zeng suggests some strategies that consumers can use to avoid being exploited. For example, “Make future pain present,” Zeng says. “Visualize the effort required to earn the money for a purchase by considering how many hours or days of work it would take.” More tips on how to Black Friday-proof your finances here.
Laughing out loud. Want to appear more sincere? Drop the LOL. New research suggests that using abbreviations in a text message can make you appear less sincere and reduce the likelihood of receiving a response. In a series of experiments, texters who used abbreviations were perceived as exerting less effort in their communication. As a result, recipients were less likely to reply, or when they did reply, those replies were shorter. This was particularly true in contexts like dating or group chats. And while younger people did use more abbreviations, they also tended to view them negatively. Lead researcher David Fang says that abbreviations are still appropriate in some contexts — it’s not like a good “ikr” is going to destroy your friendships. “However, our findings are especially relevant when we want to appear more sincere and strengthen social ties, such as at the beginning of a relationship or when we need to make a good impression,” he says.
Is happiness overrated? Many of us go to great lengths to be happy. But is our singular focus on feeling good actually making us miserable? We talk with psychologist Jordi Quoidbach, who explores what happens when we try to live in an emotional monoculture, and makes a case for letting it all in — the ups … and the downs. Listen to learn more.
ON THE HIDDEN BRAIN PODCAST
Emotions 2.0: The Logic of Rage: Neuroscientist Doug Fields was on a trip to Europe when a pickpocket stole his wallet. Doug, normally mild-mannered, became enraged — and his fury turned him into a stranger to himself. This week, we revisit a favorite 2020 episode about the secret logic of irrational anger.
ON THE MY UNSUNG HERO PODCAST
Clarice’s Story: On the darkest day of her life, Clarice’s unsung heroes gave her a safe space to feel some joy.
Don’t forget to send us the story of your unsung hero! Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.
GIVE THE GIFT OF HB+
Looking for the perfect present for the fellow Hidden Brain fan in your life? Check out our online shop for t-shirts, mugs, stickers, and more. You can now also gift an HB+ subscription to friends and family: https://www.patreon.com/hiddenbrain/gift.
MIND GAMES
I can be cracked, I can be made, I can be told, I can be played. What am I?
LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
What five-letter English word doesn’t change in pronunciation even when you remove four of its letters?
Answer: Queue
A MOMENT OF JOY
It’s almost that time of year...
Have an idea for Hidden Brain? A story you want to share with us? Send an email to ideas@hiddenbrain.org. Listen to us on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or your favorite podcast platform.