Episode 66 Interview with Ayelet Fishbach: Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago
Katy Milkman has described Ayelet Fishbach as the foremost expert on motivation in the world. In this episode we speak to Ayelet about her work and how marketers can harness it to change the behavior of their users. In a wide ranging conversation we discuss Ayelet’s research on variable rewards, the goal dilution effect and the problem with setting avoidance goals.
Episode Highlights
Why the way you frame progress—what’s done vs. what’s left—should change at the halfway point, and how commitment level influences the most motivating message.
Uncertain rewards spark more excitement than fixed ones. A study with truffles shows people are willing to pay more for the chance to “win,” even if the outcome may be worse.
Three key takeaways: how to frame progress to sustain motivation, why fewer brand messages can be more persuasive, and how uncertainty can increase customer engagement.
Resources & Useful Links
See below for additional resources from this week's episode.
Keep Listening
Ep51 - Interview: Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, author of Everybody Lies, on how to uncover hidden consumer motivations
MichaelAaron and Richard sit down with economist and data scientist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, who reveals why direct questions often don't reveal one's true motivations. They also unpack concepts like the illusion of effort, the curse of knowledge, and how to handle conflicting datasets effectively.
Ep50 - The replication crisis: How to avoid basing your marketing on bogus findings
This episode dives into a concept known as "replication crisis" in behavioral science. We explore how repeated attempts to replicate certain studies have yielded results that challenge or contradict the original findings, calling their validity into question. We highlight some well-known studies to be cautious of and share practical advice on how to ensure the findings you apply are reliable.
