Stories by David McRaney

subscribe to David McRaney's feed

Is It Hard for You to Say No to Sweets and Temptation? You May Be Suffering From "Ego Depletion"

Posted on: Jun 26, 2012, Source: AlterNet

Saying no to every naughty impulse requires a little bit of willpower fuel, and once you spend that fuel it becomes harder to say no.

The Fascinating Scientific Reason Why "Money Doesn't Buy Happiness"

Posted on: Jan 25, 2012, Source: You Are Not So Smart

No matter how you turn it, research says once your basic needs are taken care of, money and other rewards don’t make you happier.

The Coffee Illusion: What the Magic Brew Really Does to Your Brain

Posted on: Sep 5, 2011, Source: AlterNet

Coffee does not make you "superhuman." The truth is that you become addicted to caffeine quickly, and soon you are drinking coffee to cure withdrawal more than for stimulation.

Guess What? Most "Buttons" You Push Only Exist to Make You Feel Like You Have Control Over Your Life

Posted on: Aug 22, 2011, Source: You Are Not So Smart

From fake door close buttons on elevators to non-functioning thermostats, placebo buttons are everywhere, but the cause-and-effect we think we see is made-up by our brains.

Why Our Monkey Brains Are Prone to Procrastination (No, It's Not Just Laziness or Lack Of Willpower)

Posted on: Jul 4, 2011, Source: AlterNet

Present bias is why you’ve made the same resolution for the tenth year in a row, but this time you mean it.

Why Do People Believe Stupid Stuff, Even When They're Confronted With the Truth?

Posted on: Jun 26, 2011, Source: AlterNet

The "backfire effect" helps explain how strange, ancient and kooky beliefs resist science, reason and reportage.

The Fascinating Reason It's So Hard to Quit Bad Habits Like Overeating or Smoking

Posted on: Jun 13, 2011, Source: AlterNet

Why do many diets end in catastrophe? The answer lies in a strange mechanism in your brain.