GAABS Blog
BeSci News, Insights and Updates
Sharing the insights, news and updates to support behavioural science practitioners in solving real-world problems.
From "Made in China" to Market Leader: How Chinese Carmakers Out-Engineered a Nation's Biases
Why did millions of consumers stop seeing "Made in China" as a warning sign and start seeing it as a smart choice?
This isn't just a story about cheaper cars or better technology. It's a fascinating case study in how behavioural science can overcome deeply ingrained consumer biases. By understanding loss aversion, social proof, signalling, and attribute substitution, Chinese carmakers didn't simply persuade buyers—they systematically reduced the fears that were stopping them from buying in the first place.
Discover how one of the biggest shifts in the automotive market became a masterclass in changing behaviour, one bias at a time.
From the “Hand of God” to the Video Assistant Referee
Did VAR solve football's biggest refereeing problem—or expose an even bigger challenge? Using Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal as a starting point, this article explores what behavioural science reveals about dishonesty, procedural justice, and why accurate decisions alone aren't enough to build trust. From football to AI, discover why understanding how decisions are made matters just as much as getting them right.
"The Power of a Public Commitment Device:" Steve Martin on Five Years of GAABS
The former Board Chair and Influence at Work founder reflects on the origins of the world’s leading association for applied behavioural scientists — and where the field is heading next.
Steve Martin needs little introduction to anyone working in the behavioural sciences. But his role in founding GAABS — the Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists — is perhaps less well known. We sat down with him to hear the story of how the organisation came to be, what its early years were really like, and why he believes the field of behavioural science is on the cusp of a significant second wind.
Behind the Scenes of Choiceology
Just a few short days ago, GAABS welcomed Katy Milkman, host of the popular podcast "Choiceology" for a special webinar. The reason … to take a deep dive into what makes Katy’s podcast, sponsored by Charles Schwab, so impactful – it’s a two-time GAABS award-winner and has won awards for edutainment as well from other organisations.
New GAABS Board Chair, Torben Emmerling interviewed Katie about her approach to science communication, how she balances academic research with public engagement, and the production process behind "Choiceology." They discussed the podcast's successful format of combining storytelling with scientific insights, cultural considerations in content creation, and the challenges of translating academic research into practical applications.
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GAABS works with an all-volunteer Editorial Board to surface information believed to be of value to practitioners of behavioural science, but makes no warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of published content. Views expressed and representations related to data, findings and case studies are solely the responsibility of individual authors.