Behavioral Finance and Investor Psychology

A survey of 305 people finds that confidence and enjoyment predict crypto investment intentions more strongly than the pursuit of profit — and that risk-takers are motivated mainly by external rewards, not curiosity.

Using random genetic variation as a stand-in for a controlled experiment, researchers estimate that one extra year of schooling raises earnings by about 8% in Norway, higher than conventional methods suggest.

Four studies suggest an attractive model's face quietly raises how positively we rate the clothes they wear, an effect that persists even when we are told to focus only on the garment.

A survey of 367 crypto investors finds that personality and social media influencers rarely drive decisions directly. Instead, they work through mental shortcuts and crowd-following, which shape how much risk a person accepts.

New research across three experiments finds that business students and sales workers see characters in greed-glorifying Wall Street movies as role models, even when the films claim to be critical of financial excess.

A new study finds that shoppers who think they know a lot, but actually don't, may be the most likely to fall for too-good-to-be-true deals, and that generous return policies can make the trap worse for beginners.

A new study finds classical music can raise the top price shoppers will pay, but mostly for indulgent treats and when listeners feel pleasure. For everyday necessities, the genre barely moves the needle.

New research suggests the reviewers most confident in their own persuasiveness may write the least convincing reviews, because readers find their certainty less likable.

A study of 4,150 products at a major retailer finds that switching to one consistent price across online and physical stores hurts sales at first, then pays off, driven by a loyal minority of shoppers.

New research finds that fake financial articles sound noticeably more upbeat than real ones, and that positive tone alone can nudge readers toward risky investment choices.