Scott Rick

questionable behavioral science advice project

Tried a new project in my MBA Consumer Behavior class: examining questionable Behavioral Science advice 🔍

Inspired by @ifbookspod.bsky.social (@notalawyer.bsky.social + @michaelhobbes.bsky.social)

I think it went well -- lots of impassioned, convincing debunking!

A lot of couples got engaged this weekend! Should they get a prenup? I have some new evidence that speaks to this question.

At #SPSP2026 in Chicago, I'll be presenting my paper, "The Experience of Living with a Prenup: Expectations vs. Reality."

If you'll be at SPSP, I hope to see you there!

📢 We're hiring! Michigan Ross is looking to hire an Assistant Professor of Marketing (focused on Consumer Behavior) for Fall 2026.

The application deadline is soon: September 26!

apply.interfolio.com/173409

I'll be chairing the search committee, so feel free to reach out with any questions!

How Far Will People Go to Get Into the Magic Castle? Ask These Blood Donors.

New example of temptation bundling!

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/s...

Pretty good! Canadians especially have been pretty receptive 🇨🇦

Thanks for sharing this, @jonchevreau.bsky.social!

Check out our new paper on the curious ways that consumers use their co-branded credit cards! (joint w/ @chengyaosun.bsky.social + Cindy Cryder) 👇

Features pre-registered analyses of MouseLab data and credit card statements 🔎

Chengyao is a star and will be on the marketing job market this summer!

Dominance Effects in the Wild Abstract. In real-world marketplaces, one may encounter an alternative that is inferior to another one in the assortment. While the presence of such seemin

"To the degree that horizontal differentiation between sellers exists on Fiverr, it would work against finding an effect, since a “dominating” or “dominated” alternative may not always be viewed as such by the consumer." academic.oup.com/jcr/article-...

An origami bride and groom made out of cash. Text reads: "How much do you need to know about how your spouse spends money? Maybe less than you think."

Joint accounts can bring partners closer. But it doesn’t mean that’s the only account a couple needs to have.

Tips for achieving ‘financial translucency’, which is associated with marital harmony (by @scottianrick.bsky.social):
buff.ly/1gPQw32

#money #relationships #marriage #tips

Sharing Bank Accounts Can Deepen a Couple’s Relationship (Gift Article) Fewer couples are combining their bank accounts. But that trend may not promote partners’ overall financial health, experts say.

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, there's nothing more romantic than merging finances! ❤️

Check out my recent interview in the @nytimes.com:
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/b...

You can find our @jcrnews.bsky.social research here: doi.org/10.1093/jcr/...

Interesting -- thanks, Jake! I wonder about the "separation" process -- is it some easily automated thing or is it more like surgery? Sounds like I need to take a tour of one of these facilities!

If the cups have a (non-recyclable?) Airtag attached, could it be argued that the cups are better off in the trash? ("when in doubt, throw it out")

Genuinely curious, as I'd like to discuss these kinds of studies in class!

As gift-giving season heats up, I wanted to share my Time essay on gifts that send unintended messages.

tldr: Try to avoid gifts that might make the recipient think, "oh...you think I need that?"

time.com/6548757/gift...

Submitting my application 📝

Can't yet narrow it down completely, but my guess would be somewhere in Indiana or Florida!

Totally, but I'll need a bigger sample for that. For now, though, it seems safe to say that 20001 (in DC) is Spendthrift Central.

Absolutely. In the next round of surveys, I'll be measuring childhood SES (and religiosity). Many tightwads seem to develop an aversion to spending when money is tight early on, and can't shake that response later when their financial situation improves.

Thanks, Stacey. It's definitely worth tracking over time. Over the narrow age range in this survey (ages 21-40), we find a tiny TW-ST correlation with age (older respondents tend to be a little more tightwad). Consistent with the earlier TW-ST work that used a broader age range.

These are great questions -- thanks, Tom. Certainly, urban respondents are significantly more spendthrift-leaning than suburban or rural respondents. But I will be looking into your other questions.

There are several plausible explanations here. For now, I will just highlight that state TW-ST averages correlate significantly with several different measures of religiosity at the state level, with more religious states having a smaller proportion of spendthrifts.

But very open to other ideas!

In the US, where are you most likely to find a tightwad (someone who has trouble spending money)?

What about a spendthrift (someone who has trouble controlling spending)?

The map below offers a snapshot. Why might we see this kind of pattern? Open to ideas!

Methods:
scottrick.com/wp-content/u...

How much do you need to know about how your spouse spends money? Maybe less than you think A researcher explains how couples can create a sense of ‘our money’ while keeping a sense of financial autonomy.

*Our* money, or *your* money and *my* money?
@scottianrick.bsky.social advocates for a limited use joint account once you get hitched, and maintain separate accounts alongside—maybe how your spouse spends their money should be mostly *their* business: buff.ly/3KJMXzm

How much do you need to know about how your spouse spends money? Maybe less than you think A researcher explains how couples can create a sense of ‘our money’ while keeping a sense of financial autonomy.

Sharing my first article for @us.theconversation.com! I argue that complete financial transparency within a marriage is likely overrated.

theconversation.com/how-much-do-...

There's still time to register for tomorrow's event! Plus, hear from @scottianrick.bsky.social, Associate Professor of Marketing, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

member.psychologicalscience.org/events/event...

On Tuesday (7pm CT), I'll be discussing Tightwads and Spendthrifts w/one of my favorite behavioral science writers, @olgakhazan.bsky.social. This is a virtual Family Action Network event. Registration + after-hours event info below. Hope to see you there!

www.familyactionnetwork.net/events/tight...

I want to send a big Thank You to @elijfinkel.bsky.social for his kind words about my book! Eli is obviously a Mt. Rushmore-level social psychologist, so it was a big thrill to get this kind of feedback from him.

Speech bubble that reads "92% of U.S. parents report discussing money with their children" according to a 2022 survey from T. Rowe Price.

Today, during Paper Session #4 @ SJDM: Hear more about my work on parent-child conversations about money with @scottianrick.bsky.social and Susan Gelman. Unable to attend (or at Psychonomics) but still want to chat, let me know! We have such a rich data set and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

In class today, I was discussing various customer service encounters that make me anxious. A (very friendly) student approached me after class...

Student: Have you taken the Myers-Briggs?
Me: No?
Student: Could you? I'd like to find out what's going on with you.