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Ed O'Brien

Associate Professor of Behavioral Science

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

eob@chicagobooth.edu

I'm a behavioral scientist trained in experimental social psychology. I study the psychology of time and change. That is, I'm interested in how things change over time, how people perceive those changes, and the practical applications that follow from people's change (mis)perceptions.

 

For example, in one line of work I study how consumption enjoyment changes across experience (e.g., boredom and hedonic adaptation). I find that boredom is often more in consumers' minds than in reality. I thus identify interventions for reigniting and sustaining consumers' enjoyment.

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In another line of work, I study how people perceive change over time in themselves, others, and the world. I find that people often misjudge change over time, causing problems like forecasting errors and social conflict. I thus identify interventions for improving temporal perspective taking.

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For more information, please visit the links above.

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