psychology & the economy

• Psychological research has improved the economy
• Hospitals, schools, and businesses operate to make people functioning, productive members of society
• Psychological techniques have been used to manipulate people into being consumers of products
• Economy


  The production and consumption of goods and services
• To produce more goods and services


  It's good to have a well-educated, physically and mentally healthy population as efficient employees
• To consume more as a population

  Need to figure out how to make people want to buy those goods and services
• To get tax money for public services


  Need to convince people to pay their taxes
• How psychological research has been used to improve the economy


  • Maternal deprivation research leading to better child rearing advice and practices
  • Social influence research used by governments to improve tax collection, recycling, and charity giving
  • Conditioning research used by companies like Facebook to keep people engaged
  • Neurotransmitter research leading to effective drug treatments for mental health conditions
  • Memory research leading to improved criminal justice system
• Psychological findings can be applied in many ways to improve the economy
• Considering the social benefits of psychological theories may be more important than just the economic benefits