Money seems to have an almost magical effect on us.

Until recently social scientists didn't know much about the psychology of money. That has changed with an explosion of fascinating findings on how it affects our emotions, our personalities, our sexual behaviour, our risk-taking and society at large.

This series of posts looks at what some of the latest findings can tell us about how the psychology of money affects our day-to-day lives. These insights might allow us to better enjoy our money, spend it more wisely and understand how it affects our behaviour.

» All future articles on the psychology of money will be added below, so for future reference, bookmark this page in del.icio.us.

1. Whistlestop Tour of Research on the Psychology of Money
2. Avoid The Relativity Trap - How Thinking Globally Can Save You Money
3. Social Versus Financial Thinking - When Money Makes People Lazy and Selfish
4. FREE! But at What Price?
5. 6 Quirks of Ownership: How Possessions Bend Our Perceptions
6. The 3 Reasons Money Brings Satisfaction But Not Happiness
7. Do Big Money Bonuses Really Increase Job Performance?
8. Money and Self-Control: The Battle Between Thoughts and Emotions
9. Why Money is Part of Human Nature: Money as Both Tool and Drug
10. How Money Restricts Life’s Pleasures
11. 8 Psychological Keys to Spending Wisely
12. How Does The Cleanliness of Money Affect Our Spending?

You might also be interested in my review of Dan Ariely's book about behavioural economics, Predictably Irrational.

Making Habits, Breaking Habits

In his new book, Jeremy Dean--psychologist and author of PsyBlog--looks at how habits work, why they are so hard to change, and how to break bad old cycles and develop new healthy, creative, happy habits.

→ "Making Habits, Breaking Habits", is available now on Amazon.

Reviews
The Bookseller, “Editor’s Pick,” 10/12/12 “Sensible and very readable…By far the most useful of this month’s New You offerings.”

Kirkus Reviews, 1/1/13 “Making changes does take longer than we may expect—no 30-day, 30-pounds-lighter quick fix—but by following the guidelines laid out by Dean, readers have a decent chance at establishing fulfilling, new patterns.”

Publishers Weekly, 12/10/12 “An accessible and informative guide for readers to take control of their lives.”

→ You can dip into the first chapter, or check it out on Amazon.com.