Adam Alter Books
Adam Alter is a professor of psychology and marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business. His research focuses on judgment, decision-making, and social psychology, and he is known for his accessible writing on the intersection of technology and human behavior.
Known for: Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most, Drunk Tank Pink: And Other Unexpected Forces That Shape How We Think, Feel, and Behave, Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked
Books by Adam Alter
Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most
An exploration of how people and organizations can overcome periods of stagnation and achieve meaningful progress. Drawing on psychology, neuroscience, and real-world examples, Adam Alter examines why...
Drunk Tank Pink: And Other Unexpected Forces That Shape How We Think, Feel, and Behave
Drunk Tank Pink explores the hidden psychological and environmental influences that shape human behavior. Adam Alter examines how factors such as color, names, language, and geography subtly affect ou...
Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked
In this groundbreaking work, Adam Alter explores the psychology behind behavioral addiction and the irresistible pull of modern technology. Drawing on research from psychology, neuroscience, and marke...
Key Insights from Adam Alter
The Psychology of Stuckness
Stuckness is a complex psychological state triggered by a mix of emotion and cognition. When you find yourself unable to move forward, it’s rarely because of a single cause—it’s more like a knot of overlapping forces: fear of failure, perfectionism, fatigue, indecision. I describe this in neurologic...
From Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most
Recognizing Patterns of Stagnation
Every individual and organization operates within identifiable cycles of growth, plateau, and renewal. Being stuck is not a random occurrence—it is often the predictable plateau phase in these cycles. Neuroscience tells us that novelty releases dopamine, which motivates exploration. Yet as routines ...
From Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most
The Power of Color
Color affects us far beyond aesthetics; it seeps into our biology, emotions, and cognition. One of the most striking examples comes from the shade known as “Drunk Tank Pink.” In the late 1970s, researchers discovered that painting prison cells this particular shade reduced aggression and calmed inma...
From Drunk Tank Pink: And Other Unexpected Forces That Shape How We Think, Feel, and Behave
Names and Identity
Names are linguistic mirrors reflecting expectations, histories, and identities. They seem like mere labels, but research shows names subtly sculpt self-concept and even life outcomes. People with easy-to-pronounce names are often judged more positively; companies bearing resonant names are trusted ...
From Drunk Tank Pink: And Other Unexpected Forces That Shape How We Think, Feel, and Behave
Historical Context: Evolution of Addictive Behaviors Through Technology
To understand digital addiction, we must first trace its lineage. Long before smartphones and social media, human beings displayed compulsive tendencies toward games, work, and even rituals. The moment technology began amplifying these behaviors—first with arcade games, later with personal computers...
From Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked
The Psychology of Addiction: Reward Systems and Dopamine Reinforcement
Every addictive cycle, whether chemical or behavioral, rests on the foundation of reward and reinforcement. The reason digital experiences captivate us is because they engage the brain’s dopaminergic system—the part that signals pleasure but also motivates pursuit. Dopamine isn’t the substance of sa...
From Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked
About Adam Alter
Adam Alter is a professor of psychology and marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business. His research focuses on judgment, decision-making, and social psychology, and he is known for his accessible writing on the intersection of technology and human behavior.
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Adam Alter is a professor of psychology and marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business. His research focuses on judgment, decision-making, and social psychology, and he is known for his accessible writing on the intersection of technology and human behavior.
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