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!