Does shopping bring you joy? Or do you feel a bit of pain or regret every time you have to make a purchase?

Many of us will be shopping for gifts in the coming weeks, whether we enjoy it or not.

So today we're going to talk about the psychology of shopping. How do our emotions drive our buying behaviors?

Why do some people spend money so easily, even when they shouldn't,

while others find it difficult to splurge even when they can afford it?

Does buying a gift feel the same as buying something for yourself?

Is retail therapy a real thing?

Can shopping boost your mood?

And why are Black Friday sales so irresistible?

Welcome to Speaking of Psychology, the flagship podcast of the American Psychological Association

that examines the links between psychological science and everyday life.

I'm Kim Mills.

Our guest today is Dr. Scott Rick, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. His research

focuses on understanding the emotional causes and consequences of consumer financial decision-making,

with a particular interest in the behavior

of tightwads and spendthrifts, people who chronically spend more or less money than they want

to, or perhaps should.

The goal of his work is to understand why consumers behave the way they do and to develop

interventions to improve their decision-making and well-being.

He has published in journals

dedicated to marketing, psychology, management, neuroscience, and economics. And his research has

been covered by many media outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The

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