About Predictably Irrational: Our Effort to Understand Human Behavior
The human brain works in mysterious ways, and not always in the ways we think it does. We do strange things for the unknown reasons and we do common things often without thought. As a result, we are often unaware of how impulsive and predictable we can be. We often fail to think on the reasons that are behind our actions.
In this podcast, students from a Japanese university explore their own understanding of these issues and hopefully, provide the listener with some insight into how our brains work and how to be more aware of our own thinking.
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
23 Jan 2026
The Trap of the "Future Self"
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.
23 Jan 2026
The High Cost of "Zero"
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).
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