Perspectives
Research studies, articles, ideas, and other news you can use about consumer psychology and The Buycologist.
Recent Perspectives
Tariff Trouble Ahead: How Scarcity and Uncertainty Are Shaping Consumer Behavior (Again)
Remember the Great Toilet Paper Outage of 2020? You probably do—vividly. The bare shelves. The frantic store runs. The group texts asking if anyone had a spare roll. In the early days of the pandemic, spotting a pack of Charmin felt like discovering gold. It wasn’t just about hygiene—it was about psychology. That moment wasn’t…
Meet Olo, the Newly Discovered Color Only Five People Have Ever Seen.
Imagine a color so vivid, so saturated, it defies the limits of your imagination—and your screen. Meet olo, the latest addition to the human color vocabulary, courtesy of a groundbreaking study from the University of California, Berkeley. In a recent experiment, researchers used a device called “Oz” to stimulate only the M cones (the retinal…
Behavioral Science Is Not a Party Trick
Why Shallow Psychology Is Sabotaging Your Brand Let’s cut the polite pretense. Behavioral science is being butchered. In boardrooms and brainstorms across the globe, marketers are taking advice from influencers who’ve read half a book, applying psychological tactics they barely understand, and calling it strategy. Meanwhile, the customer—the actual human being—is reduced to a conversion…
Target’s DEI Stumble: The Buycologist’s Take
Currently, Target is facing a 40-day boycott, or “Target Fast,” led by Rev. Jamal Bryant, to protest the company’s perceived backtracking on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles. The publicity this particular boycott has received seems to have everyone talking about political consumerism and its impact. But as The Buycologist, I see something more profound:…
What Heroin Addiction Can Teach Us About Behavior Change
Several years ago, I stumbled upon a groundbreaking study while listening to NPR. The story was so engrossing that I couldn’t help but realize its profound implications for us in sales and marketing. The bottom line is that environmental cues are critical to changing behavior. You can read the article HERE for more detail, but…
Unlocking the Secrets of Consumer Psychology
Watch Dr. Chris on the Financial Freedom Podcast with Dr. Christopher Loo. In this episode, Chris shares valuable insights into buyer behavior and effective strategy development to give sales and marketing professionals an unfair advantage in an era of information overload. Key topics include: Consumer Psychology Myths Chris describes the pitfalls of basing sales and…
Screams, Thrills, and Popcorn Spills!
The Psychology of Horror Film Fandom Introduction: Welcome to the Dark Side of Your Psyche Ever wonder why you are drawn to watching chainsaw-wielding maniacs while your friend insists on hiding behind the couch? Buckle up, scaredy-cats and thrill-seekers alike, as we dive into the delightfully disturbing world of horror movie psychology. It’s time to…
The Remarkable Marketing Podcast
Watch Dr. Chris Discuss the Power of Empathy in Marketing In this brief podcast interview (~20 minutes), Chris makes a case for practicing empathy in sales and marketing, sharing insights, stories, and practical examples. Learn how to influence consumer behavior ethically, develop effective marketing strategies, and drive innovation through understanding customer emotion-based needs. Gain insights…
Dr. Chris Busts Consumer Psychology Myths
Do goldfish really have longer attention spans than consumers? In this brief clip, Dr. Chris discusses the nature and science of attention and what marketers must do to attract and maintain the attention of increasingly distracted consumers. A few highlights from the conversation: “There is more competing for attention these days than ever before. And…
The Buycologist Speaker Metrics
Dr. Chris Receives Raves for Keynote Address Dr. Chris recently delivered a keynote address for a pharmaceutical company’s sales and marketing summit, for which he received very positive feedback, as you can see in the above image. His speech, “Rewriting the Script,” focused on the development, maintenance, and disruption of consumer habits and their impact…
Chris on the Psychology of Conspicuous Consumption and Quiet Luxury
Chris was recently interviewed for a featured article in the Robin Report, which examines the tension between conspicuous consumption and the quiet luxury trend for high-end brands and their consumers. … identity has both intrinsic (self-expression) and extrinsic (status) components. As Chris Gray, the Buycologist, says, “Luxury purchasing is an interplay of status and self-expression,…
Dr. Chris on Jagged With Jasravee Podcast
Do goldfish really have longer attention spans than today’s consumers? Can face scans really recognize consumers’ emotional states? What secret talent makes me a hit at kids’ parties? Learn the answers to these and other fascinating questions by checking out this very fun conversation with Jasravee Kaur Chandra
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