anxiety

‘How Could I Be So Stupid?’: Making Decisions In A Pandemic

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Woman in blue surgical mask is looking out a window with her hand on the glass.

We make thousands of decisions every day. Under pandemic conditions, many of these mundane decisions have suddenly become life or death choices. No wonder anxiety is rippling through society.  Should we: get needed medical care; go to the park, see friends and family; go shopping; order-in; eat out; or send our kids back to school? Decisions … Read more

Where Did All the TP Go? The Behavioral Economics Of Hoarding

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Empty store shelves with red trays and price tags but no products

No toilet paper…anywhere? Really? It’s not unusual that people stock up in response to storms and political uncertainty. Indeed, some groups, “preppers”, accumulate years of supplies, anticipating a large-scale breakdown in society. Hoarding is a well-known psychological disorder, but that’s about collecting and retaining huge amounts of worthless items. However, empty supermarket shelves don’t necessarily mean … Read more