Stuart Vyse is the Joanne Toor Cummings '50 Professor of Psychology at Connecticut College and an expert on irrational behavior. His first book, Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, won the William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. His most recent book, Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold On To Their Money, is an analysis of the current epidemic of personal debt. A new edition of Believing in Magic was published in time for the superstitious year of 2013. In addition, Professor Vyse has published opinion pieces in a variety of publications and blogs sporadically for Psychology Today.

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences.