Consumer Behavior News

September 9, 2016

Brain Signs of Pure Altruism Increase With Age

Teenage Brain On Social Media

How the Brain Makes, and Breaks, a Habit

Money Really Does Matter in Relationships

Latest Headlines

updated 12:39am EDT

Paying Do-Gooders Makes Them Less Persuasive

Sep. 8, 2016 — People who receive a financial incentive to raise money for a charity they care about are actually less effective in soliciting donations, even when potential donors have no idea that incentives were ... read more

More Evidence That TV Ads May Influence Kids' Drinking

Sep. 7, 2016 — The more advertising kids see for particular brands of alcohol, the more they consume of those brands, according to a new study. The work adds to evidence linking alcohol advertising to underage ... read more

Young People Exposed to Vaping Ads Less Likely to Think Occasional Smoking Bad for Health

Sep. 6, 2016 — Exposure to advertisements for e-cigarettes may decrease the perceived health risks of occasional tobacco smoking, suggests new research, prompting ... read more

Gamblers More Prone to Violent Behavior

Sep. 6, 2016 — Men who gamble are more likely to act violently towards others, with the most addicted gamblers the most prone to serious violence. A new study found that gambling in any capacity -- pathological, ... read more

Nonwork Orientations Are Related to Higher Career and Life Satisfaction

Aug. 31, 2016 — When planning a career, many people take nonwork orientations into account, such as family, personal interests and civic engagement. Psychologists have found out that people who strongly consider the ... read more

Factors That Might Attract Children to Marijuana Edibles

Aug. 25, 2016 — A new report identifies factors that make food attractive to children. Commissioned by the state Liquor and Cannabis Board, the report studied research on what makes food appeal to children and the ... read more

We Are All 'Wired' for Addiction, Says Researcher

Aug. 24, 2016 — Drug addicts and non-addicts may have more in common than ever thought, according to a researcher who found that to some degree, everyone’s brain is “wired” to become ... read more

Music at Work Increases Cooperation, Teamwork

Aug. 23, 2016 — Music can have important effects on the cooperative spirits of those exposed to music, researchers report. A new article describes two studies they conducted to test the ... read more

For Sensation-Seekers, the Color Red Can Elicit Rebelliousness, Study Finds

Aug. 17, 2016 — The widespread use of the color red to signal danger can actually be counterproductive for certain people, says new research. Under certain conditions, say investigators, the color red can arouse ... read more

Does Longer Walking Distance to Buy Cigarettes Increase Quitting Among Smokers?

Aug. 15, 2016 — Walking one-third of a mile longer from home to the nearest tobacco shop to buy cigarettes was associated with increased odds that smokers would quit ... read more

The CDC Says Ads Are Encouraging Teens To Smoke E-Cigarettes

Top 3 Amusing Things We Learned From Studies This Week

Healthy Lifestyle Could Reduce Risk Of Dementia

Smart Wristband to Shock Away Bad Habits

Who Loses When Car Prices Are Negotiated?

Sep. 7, 2016 — A new car is a big expense for anyone -- but it will cost some people more than others, even at the same dealership. New research shows older consumers -- especially older women -- pay more for new ... read more

One, Two, Many: Deciders Often Shift Costs Onto Large Groups Without Hesitation

Sep. 7, 2016 — We often make generous financial decisions when the costs are dispersed over a large group, results from experimental economics ... read more

Beat the Stock Market by Satisfying Customers

Sep. 6, 2016 — Satisfy your customers and win in the stock market, says a new study by a team of researchers who found positive stock returns on customer satisfaction far out-distance competitive market measures ... read more

Consumers May Search Online for 30 Days, but Buy Close to What They Found on the First Day

Sep. 6, 2016 — Retailers and advertisers are keen to influence the search and final purchase through better product recommendations and targeted advertising. A new article studies online search and purchase ... read more

Trauma and Shopping: Post Disaster Consumers Value Off Brand, Low Cost Goods

Sep. 6, 2016 — Traumatic events have lasting influence on what products people desire and purchase. When rebuilding and restocking an area that has been affected by conflict or natural disaster, what traumatized ... read more

Single Women With Personal Wealth More Likely to Become Entrepreneurs Than Men

Aug. 30, 2016 — There is a big difference in cash flow problems faced by men and women in the UK, a new economic study has found. They found single women face more severe constraints to their incomings and ... read more

Businesses That Show Commitment to Sustainability Inspire Greener Customers

Aug. 26, 2016 — Spending a little to prove a commitment to sustainability can help tourism industry businesses such as hotels inspire customers to conserve resources -- and save money in the process, according to ... read more

Going Green Is for Girls, but Branding Can Make Men Eco-Friendly

Aug. 25, 2016 — Studies show that men are not as environmentally friendly as women. But could men be persuaded to go green? New research indicates the answer is yes — and it’s all about ... read more

Fighting the Stigma of Albinism

Aug. 23, 2016 — People with albinism face major health problems, including skin cancer, involuntary eye movements, and poor eyesight. According to a new study, many of them also suffer severe discrimination and ... read more

Buying High Vs. Bargain Hunting

Aug. 17, 2016 — Purchasing and pricing has always been a dance between buyers and sellers. Before deciding to make a purchase, buyers spend varying amounts of time and effort searching for price information. These ... read more

Many Underestimate Financial Loss Due to Poor Arithmetic

Aug. 17, 2016 — Anyone who has lost out on an investment in recent weeks -- from pension funds and stocks to the housing rental market and currency exchange -- may have lost more than they realize, according to new ... read more

Employers Who Promote Ethics Should Reward Workers Who Exhibit Them, Study Finds

Aug. 17, 2016 — Building a business reputation from the inside out — with employees giving a company high marks as an ethical place to work — is increasingly being hailed as a way to get a leg up on the ... read more

Heading for a Fall: Neuroscientists Reveal How Overconfidence Can Lead to Poor Decision Making

Aug. 15, 2016 — The link between overconfidence and poor decision making is under the spotlight in a new, international study. Findings suggest that although being confident entails a reward-like component, it can ... read more

Study of Brain Activity Shows That Food Commercials Influence Children's Food Choices

Aug. 12, 2016 — Food advertising is a multi-billion dollar industry, with approximately $1.8 billion annually aimed at children and adolescents, who view 1,000-2,000 ads per year. Some studies have shown there is a ... read more

When Listing a Home for Sale the Left-Most Digit on the Asking Price Matters Most

Aug. 9, 2016 — The best technique for pricing a home when listing it for sale is setting the asking price just below a round number, according to recent ... read more

Vaping Flavor: Dangerous Trends in Youth Consumption of E-Cigarettes

Aug. 9, 2016 — Currently, we are experiencing a new phenomenon with youth consumption of e-cigarettes all around the United States. New flavors appear to be one of the main reasons why teens are getting hooked on ... read more

Focus on Future to Save More Money

Aug. 4, 2016 — When it comes to personal finances, impulsiveness and materialism can lead to bad decisions and a failure to save enough, but new research suggests that when people focus more on the future, they ... read more

New Research Explores Why People 'Pass the Buck'

Aug. 3, 2016 — People are more likely to delegate decisions--or "pass the buck"--when faced with choices that affect others than when those decisions affect only themselves, according to new ... read more

Blood Sugar Slumps Affect How Lean Men Treat the More Rotund

Aug. 3, 2016 — When slim men suffer bouts of low blood sugar, chances are that they will make unfair decisions involving the more rotund people they engage with in the ... read more

Alcohol Advertising Linked to Adolescent Drinking

Aug. 2, 2016 — A new study finds that exposure to several different types of alcohol marketing is positively associated with the amount and frequency of drinking among adolescents across ... read more

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