Should You Turn on Subtitles for Your Kids?
Should you turn on subtitles when your kids are watching TV? A new eye-tracking study shows it might help —...
Does a simple message reduce missed loan payments? A 13-million-person study says yes
A 13-million-person field experiment shows how small behavioral tweaks — like reminder emails — help people stay on top of...
Temptation Bundling: Should You Watch Netflix at the Gym?
Temptation bundling exercise strategies pair something enjoyable with something effortful — and can increase workout consistency. But do they actually...
Why Moral Refusers Are Disliked
Why moral refusers are disliked — even when they’re quiet or polite — is the focus of a revealing study...
Paying People to Exercise: Should You Pay People to Go to the Gym?
Paying people to exercise or show other desirable behavior is a popular idea. Governments, insurers, employers, and parents have all...
Stop throwing information at people
Behavior change interventions often fail — because they target the wrong things. Here’s what science says actually works, based on...
Why habits are hard to break — even when we desperately want to
We often try to change our behavior with motivation and good intentions. But science shows habits don’t respond to willpower...
The Behavioral Times offers science-backed insights into the psychology of everyday behavior — from habits and health to finance, AI, and social dynamics. Practical, clear, and always grounded in research.