Episode Information

So, no ladders...no mirrors...no black cats. Feeling lucky? Just listen to Where We Live.

Superstitions, magical thinking and irrational behavior have always been a part of human existence...but why? Why are we more likely to choose a "safe" option - to avoid a perceived loss? Why is it "bad luck" to "tempt fate?" Why can't we part with a cherished item, that others would likely see as junk?

Today, Where We Live, we're going to explore all kinds of irrationality, from the tricky world of "social norms" to the most practical of questions: Why would someone drive ten miles out of their way - burning more gas - to save a few pennies on a gallon?

We'll be talking with Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational: The hidden forces that shape our decisions. And with behavioral scientist Jane Risen.

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