Adam Alter

A New York Times bestseller! A revelatory look at how our environment unconsciously yet dramatically shapes the judgments and decisions we make every day Most of us go through life believing that we are in control of the choices we make—that we think and behave almost independently from the world around us. But as Drunk Tank Pink illustrates, the truth is our environment shapes our thoughts and actions in myriad ways without our permission or even our knowledge. Armed with surprising data and endlessly fascinating examples, Adam Alter addresses the subtle but substantial ways in which outside forces influence us—such as color’s influence on mood, our bias in favor of names with which we identify, and how sunny days can induce optimism as well as aggression. Drunk Tank Pink proves that the truth behind our feelings and actions goes much deeper than the choices we take for granted every day.

And Other Unexpected Forces That Shape How We Think, Feel, and Behave

Drunk Tank Pink

A groundbreaking guide to breaking free from the thoughts, habits, jobs, relationships, and even business models that prevent us from achieving our full potential.

Almost everyone feels stuck in some way. Whether you’re muddling through a midlife crisis, wrestling writer’s block, trapped in a thankless job, or trying to remedy a fraying friendship, the resulting emotion is usually a mix of anxiety, uncertainty, fear, anger, and numbness. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Anatomy of a Breakthrough is the roadmap we all need to escape our inertia and flourish in the face of friction.

Adam Alter has spent the past two decades studying how people become stuck and how they free themselves to thrive. Here he reveals the formula he and other researchers have uncovered. The solution rests on a process that he calls a friction audit—a systematic procedure that uncovers why a person or organization is stuck, and then suggests a path to progress. The friction audit states that people and organizations get unstuck when they overcome three sources of friction: HEART (unhelpful emotions); HEAD (unhelpful patterns of thought); and HABIT (unhelpful behaviors).

Despite the ubiquity of friction, there are many great “unstickers” hidden in plain sight among us and Alter shines a light on some exceptional stories to share their valuable lessons with us. He tells us about the sub-elite swimmer who unstuck himself twice to win two Olympic gold medals, the actor who faced countless rejections before gaining worldwide fame, the renowned painter who became paralyzed and had to relearn to paint with a brush strapped to his wrist, and Alter’s own story of getting unstuck from a college degree that made him deeply unhappy.

Artfully weaving together scientific studies, anecdotes, and interviews, Alter teaches us that getting stuck is a feature rather than a glitch on the road to thriving, but with the right tweaks and corrections we can reach even our loftiest targets.

How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most

Anatomy of a Breakthrough

Almost half of the developed population has an internet-based addiction. In some ways this is not surprising, as our world is filled with addictive experiences: from social media and messaging, to rolling news and video streaming. Attention spans are decreasing as our time spent glued to our screens are increasing, negatively affecting our ability to relax, sleep, develop relationships and achieve meaningful goals. Psychologist Adam Alter provides insight into why explains the science behind why we can't seem to stop such behaviour and offers practical advice for using technology differently, in order to lead a happier life, and to set yourself free. ‘This examination of today’s tech-zombie epidemic is worth putting your phone down for’ Guardian 'Essential reading... Regain control of your time, finances and relationships' Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit

Why We Can’t Stop Checking, Scrolling, Clicking and Watching

Irresistible

A groundbreaking guide to breaking free from the thoughts, habits, jobs, relationships, and even business models that prevent us from achieving our full potential. Almost everyone feels stuck in some way. Whether you’re muddling through a midlife crisis, wrestling writer’s block, trapped in a thankless job, or trying to remedy a fraying friendship, the resulting emotion is usually a mix of anxiety, uncertainty, fear, anger, and numbness. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Anatomy of a Breakthrough is the roadmap we all need to escape our inertia and flourish in the face of friction. Adam Alter has spent the past two decades studying how people become stuck and how they free themselves to thrive. Here he reveals the formula he and other researchers have uncovered. The solution rests on a process that he calls a friction audit—a systematic procedure that uncovers why a person or organization is stuck, and then suggests a path to progress. The friction audit states that people and organizations get unstuck when they overcome three sources of friction: HEART (unhelpful emotions); HEAD (unhelpful patterns of thought); and HABIT (unhelpful behaviors). Despite the ubiquity of friction, there are many great “unstickers” hidden in plain sight among us and Alter shines a light on some exceptional stories to share their valuable lessons with us. He tells us about the sub-elite swimmer who unstuck himself twice to win two Olympic gold medals, the actor who faced countless rejections before gaining worldwide fame, the renowned painter who became paralyzed and had to relearn to paint with a brush strapped to his wrist, and Alter’s own story of getting unstuck from a college degree that made him deeply unhappy. Artfully weaving together scientific studies, anecdotes, and interviews, Alter teaches us that getting stuck is a feature rather than a glitch on the road to thriving, but with the right tweaks and corrections we can reach even our loftiest targets.

Bagimlilik Yapici Teknolojinin Yükselisi ve Bizim Ona Esir Edilisimiz

Karsi Konulmaz

'A brilliant detective story about the sources of human creativity. I loved it' - Malcolm Gladwell 'Important, entertaining, practical, and timely. Alter reveals how to turn sticking points into breakthroughs' - Arianna Huffington Anatomy of a Breakthrough is a groundbreaking guide to optimising your life, overcoming obstacles, and reaching your full potential. All of us go through episodes of simply being stuck, whether we're trapped in a thankless job, wrestling writer's block, muddling through a midlife crisis, or fixing a fraying friendship. The resulting malaise is often chronic, dangerous to our mental health, and with severe consequences to our success and development. What if there was a proven plan to get unstuck and break through? Anatomy of a Breakthrough is the remedy for overcoming the impediments holding us back. Professor of Marketing, and New York Times-bestselling author, Adam Alter offers a brilliant new framework for not only getting unstuck but also going on to flourish. Critically, he introduces us to the Friction Audit - a test to work out where our sticking points lie between our Head, Heart and Habits - and then he takes us on a roadmap to break through. Artfully weaving together scientific studies, anecdotes, and interviews, and illustrated with stories of the great 'unstickers' amongst us, Anatomy of a Breakthrough will inspire anyone to boldly break away from the things holding them back, and to realise their goals.

How to get unstuck and unlock your potential

الزنزانة الوردية 

How to Get Unstuck at Work, at Home, and at Play

Break Free

Um estudo definitivo sobre o vício comportamental, um problema a que todos nós estamos sujeitos em razão das irresistíveis tecnologias digitais do mundo de hoje. Somos obcecados com nossos e-mails e redes sociais, e passamos horas usando nossos smartphones. Neste livro revolucionário, o professor de psicologia e marketing Adam Alter analisa o crescimento do vício comportamental, e explica por que a maioria dos produtos de hoje é irresistível. Apesar de essas tecnologias milagrosas encurtarem as distâncias que nos separam, seu magnetismo extraordinário – e às vezes prejudicial – não é mero acaso. As empresas que criam tais produtos se esforçam para torná-los quase impossíveis de serem deixados de lado. Em Irresistível, por meio de histórias e exemplos com os quais os leitores facilmente se identificarão, Alter analisa o mecanismo dos vícios comportamentais para explicar como fazer bom uso das tecnologias — para melhorar a maneira como nos comunicamos uns com os outros, gastamos e economizamos dinheiro ou definimos os limites entre trabalho e lazer — e como mitigar seus efeitos mais nocivos em termos de bem-estar, saúde e felicidade. "Leitura essencial para quem já se perguntou por que algumas experiências são tão viciantes e como retomar o controle do seu tempo, finanças e relacionamento." — Charles Duhigg, autor de O poder do hábito

Por que você é viciado em tecnologia e como lidar com ela

Irresistível

'Drunk Tank Pink' is a particular shade of pink. In 1979 psychologists discovered that it has an extraordinary effect: if you stare at it for two minutes, you dramatically weaken in strength. In this brilliant study of the strange recesses of our minds, Adam Alter reveals the world is full of such hidden forces that shape our every thought, feeling and behaviour – without us ever realizing. Some letters in product names make us more likely to buy them (nearly all successful brands contain a 'k' sound) We're more likely to be critical if we write in red rather than green biro Your first report at school can determine your future career Understanding these cues is key to smarter decision-making, more effective marketing, and better outcomes for our selves and our societies. Prepare for the most astounding and fast-paced psychology book since Blink and Predictably Irrational.

The Subconscious Forces that Shape How We Think, Feel, and Behave

The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked

亞當•奧特

你的所有決定與行為，可能僅取決於前一分鐘你身邊的事物！ ★ 甫出版即榮登《紐約時報》暢銷排行榜！ ★ 《華爾街日報》《經濟學人》《出版人週刊》、各界學者、各大媒體，齊聲讚譽！ ★ 趨勢觀察界、心理學界的新銳明日之星！ 我們總認為可以掌控自己的思考，但其實我們的想法、判斷與行為深受看似理所當然卻意想不到的周遭環境，以及一些先天因素影響！這些微妙的潛在因素讓我們直覺地、無意識地做出決定，而這些看似微不足道的決定，最終將會影響我們的命運！ ▍一個好唸的名字（或公司名稱）會讓你的成功來得比別人快？ ▍投履歷給傳統產業或外商公司時，你的面試機會也可能取決於大頭照的臉部比例？ ▍「十萬人使用過都說讚！」這種產品只有亞洲人才會買帳？ ▍想不到點子時，多看蘋果公司的商標就能激發創意？ ▍在秋冬季大量上映浪漫愛情喜劇，是電影公司的策略之一？ ▍瑞士西北部小鎮警局設置了「粉紅牢房」、美國德州監獄也讓囚犯穿上「粉紅色囚衣」的用途？ 一個研究發現，「像泡泡糖的粉紅色」會讓人毫無來由地力氣減弱、情緒鎮靜。有人根據這個結果，將重刑犯的牢房漆成粉紅色，果不其然那些凶暴殘忍的犯人，被關進粉紅色牢房15分鐘後隨即心情平靜下來，乖得跟隻小綿羊似的。之後「粉紅色牢房效應」便逐漸被引申運用在日常生活之中，粉紅色的公車座椅消弭了破壞行為、父母將活潑好動孩子的房間漆成粉紅色，甚至美式足球教練為了平撫對手的激動情緒，特地將客隊的更衣室漆成粉紅色，藉以打敗對手！ 心理學博士亞當˙奧特藉由以上例子，以及運用其他各種面向實例，說明生活中影響我們決策的潛在因素，像美國選戰趣事、交通事故目擊者證詞及電影上映時機等，闡述一項驚人發現：人的思考、行為及想法竟受到我們無法控制的力量掌控！ 【本書特色】 ◆ 三大章節，分別由9個不同形態存在於生活中的主題一一分析。 ◆ 以行銷學、心理學、社會學驚人的實驗數據，搭配文化史地饒富興味的軼事，讀來富有知識性且興味盎然。 ◆ 搭配研究實驗圖片簡單易懂，同時可以跟著書中敘述實際操作。 本書引用許多尖端的心理學、行銷學及社會學的實例結果，證實我們的生活周遭除了顏色之外，還有很多「隱形的手」正在操控我們的思維。奧特以詼諧筆鋒展現精湛才華，列舉許多出乎意料且令人信服的傳聞、事件、研究結果及人物軼事，讓我們知道如何才能辨識出這些潛在力量，驅使我們成為更聰明的決策者！從我們的內在世界、與人之間的世界，到外在周遭的世界，奧特為我們揭露這一連串綁架我們大腦的隱藏力量，點醒我們察覺事物的目光！我們的人生是由一次次決定堆砌而成，幫助你認清人生中的種種障礙，瞭解更明智、更聰慧的決策方法將會為你重拾命運掌握權，讓你能更聰明地經營人生！ 【作者簡介】 亞當•奧特 Adam Alter 普林斯頓大學社會心理學博士。曾在哈佛、耶魯、麻省理工學院、史丹福、康乃爾與芝加哥大學等學術機構授課。曾榮獲心理學大學獎章，並於威爾遜學者學會擔任研究員。 現任紐約大學史登商學院行銷學系的助理教授，也在紐約大學心理系擔任兼任教職。奧特研究重點在於人如何做出判斷，以及形塑自身人生的決定。 奧特同時也是《今日心理學》網站的特約部落客。他的著作廣泛刊登於學術刊物，包括《實驗心理學季刊》《美國國家科學院院刊》。也散見於主流媒體，如公共電視網（PBS）與BBC廣播電台、《紐約時報》《華爾街日報》與《經濟學人》等。本書為奧特的處女作，甫出版即大受歡迎，甚至接受了《時代雜誌》百大影響人物、暢銷書《決斷2秒間》作家葛拉威爾的特別專訪。

綁架想法、感受和行為的9種潛在力量

粉紅色牢房效應

Miért tudnak jobban olvasni a tizediken lakó gyerekek a földszinten lakóknál? Milyen színű mezben játsszunk, ha nyerni akarunk? Hogyan érhetjük el, hogy az emberek fizessenek a becsületkasszába? Milyen profilképpel leszünk népszerűek a társkereső oldalakon? A legtöbben azt hisszük, hogy másoktól szinte teljesen függetlenül gondolkodunk és viselkedünk. Valójában azonban környezetünk elképesztő mértékben befolyásolja döntéseinket és tetteinket. Adam Alter pszichológus és marketingszakember a legújabb pszichológiai kutatások segítségével bemutatja, miként hat ránk a világ: hogyan módosítják viselkedésünket a címkék, a jelképek, a kulturális közeg, vagy éppen az időjárás.

Kijózanító rózsaszín

Irresistibile. Come dire no alla schiavitù della tecnologia

Etwa die Hälfte der westlichen Bevölkerung ist nach mindestens einer Verhaltensweise süchtig. Wie unter Zwang hängen wir an unseren E-Mails, Instagram-Likes und Facebook-Posts; wir schießen uns mit Fernsehserien ins Koma, können das Online-Shoppen nicht lassen, arbeiten jedes Jahr noch ein paar Stunden länger; wir starren im Schnitt drei Stunden am Tag auf unsere Smartphones. Ein Grund dafür liegt im suchterzeugenden Design dieser Technologien. Das Zeitalter der Verhaltenssüchte ist noch jung, doch immer deutlicher wird, wie sehr es sich um ein gesellschaftlich relevantes Problem handelt – mit zerstörerischer Wirkung auf unser Wohlergehen und besonders die Gesundheit und das Glück unserer Kinder. Der Psychologe Adam Alter zeigt, warum sich Verhaltenssüchte so wild wuchernd ausbreiten, wie sie aus der menschlichen Psyche Kapital schlagen und was wir tun müssen, damit wir und unsere Kinder es einfacher haben, ihnen zu widerstehen. Denn die gute Nachricht lautet, dass wir den Verhaltenssüchten nicht unumstößlich ausgeliefert sind. "Adam Alter hat den Heiligen Gral erlangt: ein wichtiges Buch voller Einsicht, das zu lesen ein Vergnügen ist und auf aktuellster Forschung beruht." Charles Duhigg

Der Aufstieg suchterzeugender Technologien und das Geschäft mit unserer Abhängigkeit

Unwiderstehlich

Podívali jste se na telefon? Ne? Tak už je načase! Možná někdo něco okomentoval, možná se někomu líbí vaše fotka na Instagramu. Možná taky ne. Ale co kdyby… Moderní technologie nás osvobozují od nepříjemností, jako je nuda nebo fyzická vzdálenost. Zároveň s nimi však přicházejí nové nevýhody a hrozby. Při vzniku behaviorálních závislostí mozek nepotřebuje chemické podněty. Proto jsou lidé často závislí na hazardu, sexu — nebo právě digitálních technologiích. Odborník na marketing a psychologii Adam Alter vysvětluje, proč nemůžeme odolat mobilním telefonům a proč bychom si raději rozbili koleno než displej: jsou tak navržené a vyrobené. Alterův záběr je však mnohem širší. Nevěnuje se jen zjevným návykovým technologiím, jako jsou chytré telefony a tablety, ale také sociálním sítím, seznamkám, online nakupování a dalším pohlcujícím prostředím. Zabývá se zkrátka vším, co komerčně závisí na své neodolatelnosti. A to je dnes většina věcí.

Adam Alter

Books

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