Predictably Irrational: Our Effort to Understand Human Behavior

In this episode, the hosts explore how the word "free" acts as a powerful psychological switch that fundamentally changes human behavior. Drawing on the theories of Dan Ariely, the discussion examines the shift between market norms, where we act out of self-interest, and social norms, where fairness and community take center stage. From the competitive frenzy over Yakult 1000 to the quiet restraint shown at a free rubber band station, the team shares insights from a real-world field study to explain why "free" is not just a price, but a social signal that determines how we treat one another

In this episode, hosts Michael, Emil, and Sota dive into why we consistently make decisions we know are bad for us, focusing specifically on the hot-cold empathy gap. They explore the psychological struggle of procrastination, explaining how our "cold" logical state fails to predict how our "hot" emotional state will behave under the pressure of a deadline. By comparing Dan Ariely’s research on student deadlines with their own local survey data, the hosts reveal that we are "predictably irrational" when it comes to trusting our future selves. The episode concludes with practical advice on moving away from unreliable willpower toward building smarter systems.

In this episode, student hosts Spencer, Angelo, and Nozomi explore the endowment effect. This is a behavioral bias where we value things we own more than they are objectively worth. They also discuss the IKEA effect, which explains our tendency to overvalue products we have personally put labor into, such as handmade items or assembled furniture. By sharing results from their own multilingual survey, the hosts examine how these psychological traps manifest differently across Japan, Italy, and the United States

In this episode, student hosts Khin, Hein, and May explore the psychological "zero trap" based on Chapter 3 of the book Predictably Irrational. The discussion centers on how the word "free" fundamentally changes human decision-making, often leading us to make choices that are logically inferior or more expensive in the long run. By combining Dan Ariely’s theories with their own original research, the hosts reveal why we are willing to sacrifice quality and time just to avoid paying a single cent (or yen).

In this episode, student hosts Hasib, Daisuke, and Itsuki explore why humans have a psychological impulse to keep every door open, even when having too many choices becomes counterproductive. Drawing on the theories of Dan Ariely, the hosts discuss how the fear of losing options leads to stress, exhaustion, and a lack of focus in student life. They conclude that closing doors is not a loss of freedom, but a necessary commitment that allows for growth and better results

In this episode, student hosts Adrian, Ryo, and Tomoka explore the universal struggle of procrastination and self-control. By examining why we often choose immediate pleasure over long-term goals, the hosts discuss how human behavior is predictably irrational when it comes to managing time and distractions,. The episode features a breakdown of a famous MIT classroom experiment regarding deadlines, original survey data from university students, and personal stories about the "autopilot" nature of social media scrolling.

In this episode, hosts Karei and Mari explore the psychological tendencies that lead us to make predictably irrational decisions. Drawing on concepts from the book Predictably Irrational, the duo discusses the IKEA effect—the tendency to overvalue products we have built ourselves—and the sunk cost effect, which explains why we struggle to let go of projects or experiences after investing time or money into them. Through survey data and relatable examples, they examine how emotional attachment and the fear of wastefulness (In Japanese: "mottainai") often override objective logic in our daily lives

For our final episode of Season 3, we’re diving into Logical Fallacies—those deceptive thinking traps that can undermine even our most well-reasoned arguments. From slippery slopes to false dilemmas, our student presenters will break down common fallacies and share insights from their research on how these errors affect decision-making and communication. Thanks for joining us this season! We will be back with more episodes in January 2026!

In this episode, we’re exploring Emotional Decision-Making in Hot and Cold States, inspired by Dan Ariely’s work in Predictably Irrational. How do our choices shift when we’re calm and rational versus when we’re overwhelmed by emotion? Our student presenters will share findings from their own study, revealing how these contrasting emotional states influence decision-making in everyday life.

In this episode, we’re tackling the all-too-relatable topic of Procrastination, inspired by Dan Ariely’s insights from Predictably Irrational. Why do we often delay important tasks, even when we know better? Our student presenters will share findings from their own study, shedding light on the psychological forces behind procrastination and strategies to overcome it. Stay with us for an insightful and motivating discussion!

In this episode, we’re exploring the Power of Price, inspired by Dan Ariely’s insights from Predictably Irrational. How does the price of something influence not just our willingness to pay but our perception of its quality and effectiveness? Our student presenters will share findings from their own study, uncovering how pricing impacts behavior and expectations in surprising ways. How much is it worth to you to learn about the Power of Price!?!

In this episode, we’re diving into the compelling concept of the Cost of Zero, inspired by Dan Ariely’s work in Predictably Irrational. Why does “free” have such a powerful hold over our choices, even when it’s not the best option? Our student presenters will share findings from their own study, revealing how the allure of zero cost influences decision-making in surprising ways. Stick around for a thought-provoking discussion!

In this episode, we’re exploring Common Biases, inspired by Dan Ariely’s insights from Predictably Irrational. From confirmation bias to anchoring, these mental shortcuts often lead us astray without us even realizing it. Our student presenters will share findings from their own study, shedding light on how these biases affect everyday judgments and decisions. Stay with us for a fascinating look at the quirks of the human mind!

In this episode, we’re tackling the intriguing topic of Our Character: Honesty and Dishonesty, inspired by Dan Ariely’s insights from Predictably Irrational. Why do we sometimes bend the truth—or stay honest even when we could get away with a lie? Our student presenters will share findings from their own study exploring how different situations influence honest and dishonest behavior. Get ready for an eye-opening conversation about the surprising forces that shape our moral choices!

In this episode, we’re diving into the fascinating concept of the Effect of Expectations, inspired by Dan Ariely’s work in Predictably Irrational. Expectations have a powerful impact on how we perceive experiences, from the taste of food to the success of learning outcomes. Today, our student presenters will share their research findings on how expectations shape behavior and perceptions in a practical study they conducted. We think you will enjoy this thought-provoking discussion!

In today’s episode, we’re exploring Dan Ariely’s concept of relativity, as discussed in his book Predictably Irrational. Relativity helps explain why our decisions are often influenced by comparisons rather than absolute values. To bring this idea to life, our student presenters will share findings from their own study, where they tested how relativity affects decision-making in a real-world context. Get ready for an engaging mix of theory and practice!

24Wa students Masaki, Minori, and Akari introduce the idea of Social Norms vs. Market Norms. They also go over the results of a survey that included 100 participants. If you just want the audio version, check out our podcast on Spotify. Watch the video of this report on YouTube.

In this episode, Riko and Ryota talked about irrationality, social norms and market norms, and logical fallacies. Human beings tend to compare, they use social norms and market norms in different purposes, and they will obey themselves if there are some praises for them. Human beings sometimes use these how to think or behavior by mistake, which may cause some serios problems. However, there are some solutions to solve the problems and we will indicate them. We hope you enjoy this final episode of Season 2.

Ryoki, Kanta, and Kairi are talking about Straw-man Fallacy, Hasty Generalization, Anecdotal Evidence Fallacy, and Burden of Proof Fallacy. We will explain each fallacy and explain how to avoid it. We conducted our study in one of the four fallacies: "Have you ever asked your parents to buy something by lying to them, saying that someone else had it too?'' We will explain based on" Is there anything that happens?'' In this podcast, you will be able to hear and learn about the fallacy that is lurking around you.

Daito, Kyoka, Maina and Kohei explain the four human irrationalities: Base Rate Fallacy, Cognitive Dissonance, Commitment Bias, and Correlation/Causation Fallacy. This content is related to the contradictions between behavior and thought, as well as the handling of information. By understanding these, you can comprehend and confront aspects of yourself that you may not have been aware of before. This knowledge enables self-reflection, providing insights into one's own characteristics.