Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Deborah Small, PhD is a professor of marketing in the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research crosses the intersections of psychology and economics, examining fundamental processes that underlie human decision making. In recent years, her work has focused on both altruistic and self-interested motivations for philanthropic behavior. She has examined impediments to effective altruism, bragging about prosocial behavior, and the downsides of conspicuous consumption.  A NOTE TO OUR LISTENERS: We recorded this discussion with Deborah on March 6, 2020, and it was one of the last recordings that Kurt and Tim made in the studio together. On that day, the United States confirmed 311 cases of coronavirus out of roughly 100,000 worldwide. While we were all aware of the virus, the World Health Organization had not labeled it a pandemic, which happened on March 11th. At a little after the 26:00-minute mark, we discuss what was going on as “unfolding,” as it was at that time. Our conversation with D