6 Psychology Studies with Marketing Implications
Psychology is the study of human behavior, and there are very few jobs in the world that don’t have to do with human behavior. In no field is the overlap between psychological theories and real-world applications more apparent than marketing. The aim of marketing is to influence human behavior, and you can’t begin to do that if you don’t understand how humans behave. Here are six landmark experiments that reveal key insights about human behavior and the psychology of marketing. 1. Regan’s Reciprocity Experiment In 1971, Professor Dennis Regan at Cornell University demonstrated the power of the reciprocity principle in what was ostensibly an “art appreciation experiment.” In the experiment, subjects were asked to rate paintings with a partner, who was in reality a research assistant. So what does this experiment tell us about marketing? If you provide something of value to your customers or your website visitors, they will be far more likely to provide you with their busine...