If you’ve read Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point, you’re already familiar with the key concepts of the influentials theory and its place in modern marketing.

Many have tried to debunk its validity, but as far as I know no one has yet succeeded. Although, it appears some are steadily gaining ground: (more…)

Is gambling as addictive as nicotine, and if it is, are casinos the new tobacco of the 20th century legal system?

Let’s wait and see.

“This is the most powerful addiction you can have without putting something into your body. You remember your first big win, and you think `Hey, I can do this again; I can get it all back.’” [...]

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A different take on the well-documented placebo effect. Very interesting read:

Expectations have long been a topic of psychological research, and it’s well known that they affect how we react to events, or how we respond to medication. But in recent years, scientists have been intensively studying how expectations shape our direct experience of the world, what we taste, feel, and hear. The findings have been surprising - did you know that generic drugs can be less effective merely because they cost less? - and it’s now becoming clear just how pervasive the effects of expectation are.

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