Latest news with #Loewenstein
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
What Would Americans Really Do for $1 Million? New Survey Reveals Shocking Truth
Americans would ditch love, betray friends and even risk their lives for a seven-figure payday, a new survey reveals. Over 40% would walk out on their romantic partner in a heartbeat for a cool million, according to a poll of 2,000 people by Gamblizard, a website that tracks and shares online casino deals. And plenty of Americans seem willing to risk their own skin, too. 4 Friendship, love and ethics all take a back seat when seven figures are on the table, according to a new survey on money and morals. New Africa – Nearly half, 46%, said they'd step right into a real-life 'Squid Game' — the Netflix hit where contestants face certain death — to pocket $33 million, just like the winner on the show. Even more chilling, four in ten Americans said they would gladly bankrupt a stranger to secure $33 million for themselves. Another 46 percent said they might consider it, depending on whose finances were at risk. Nearly 60% would ditch technology entirely and live off the grid, and forget Netflix and chill: 41% of Americans would completely swear off sex for that same million-dollar check, the survey found. An alarming 15% admitted they'd frame a friend for a crime they didn't commit to get their hands on that kind of cash. 4 The hit series 'Squid Game' pits desperate players in deadly games for money — and nearly half of Americans say they'd sign up in real life for $33 million. New Africa – But Americans do have priorities, with 10 percent saying they would reject the money if they couldn't share it, while 21% value social media access more than a million bucks. More than half would reject the cash if their parents controlled it, and 38% would hesitate if their enemy benefited too. The findings 'reveal more about human psychology than moral decay,' said Nina Mazar, behavioral scientist at Boston University's Questrom School of Business. 'While some people might never compromise their values regardless of the sum, others have thresholds — and the data suggests that as incentives rise, more people admit they'd waver.' But Carnegie Mellon University economics and psychology professor George Loewenstein thinks the issue runs deeper. 4 The survey suggests that when the stakes are high enough, even the most unthinkable choices start to seem tempting. New Africa – When money's tight, people are more willing to stretch their morals to make ends meet, he said. Some might laugh off these survey answers as just hypothetical fun, but Loewenstein warns the truth might be darker. 'Are these responses likely to reflect real behavior? They probably understate the actual fraction of people who would actually do these things if faced with the temptation,' said Loewenstein, who specializes in social and decision sciences. Ben Bradley, a philosophy professor and ethics expert at Syracuse University is worried about the nation's moral compass. 4 A shocking number of Americans say they'd dump their partners without hesitation if it meant walking away with a million-dollar check. New Africa – 'People often think they would act a certain way when confronted with a scenario, but are wrong,' he said. 'Framing a friend for murder is much more disturbing. A non-trivial number of people regard morality as a sucker's game.'
Time Business News
17-07-2025
- General
- Time Business News
Curiosity Sells: Why the Most Powerful Emotion in Marketing Isn't Fear or Love
For decades, marketers leaned on fear, love, and trust to move consumers. But what if the most powerful motivator wasn't emotional safety or attachment—but curiosity? In today's digital world, the urge to 'know more' isn't just a feeling—it's a decision-driving force that hooks consumers, increases engagement, and keeps them coming back. Today, the emotion that's silently driving the most engagement, clicks, and conversions isn't fear or love. It's curiosity—an often underestimated psychological force that shapes decisions before we're even aware of it. Curiosity marketing works because it taps into real brain science. Research shows that curiosity activates the dopaminergic reward system—the same network triggered by pleasure or risk (Gruber et al., 2014). This state makes us not only more alert but also more likely to engage, remember, and act. In fact, the more curious we are, the more likely we are to remember new information, even if it's trivial. The state of curiosity primes the brain to learn faster and feel rewarded in the process. That's why curiosity-based content tends to outperform fear-based or emotionally manipulative advertising. The curiosity gap—the space between what we know and want to know—drives everything from viral headlines to TikTok rabbit holes (Loewenstein, 1994). Curiosity marketing takes advantage of this by offering just enough to tease, never enough to satisfy… until you click. The brain is unsettled by this gap and seeks closure, often compelling us to click, scroll, or investigate further. Ever clicked on: 'You won't believe what happened next…' 'The one secret your bank won't tell you…' 'She opened the door—and froze.' These headlines don't give answers; they create a psychological itch. And users can't resist scratching it. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is commonly labeled a fear-based strategy in marketing. But at its core, it's really a weaponized form of curiosity. When you see: 'Only 3 seats left!' 'Everyone's talking about this…' 'Did you miss yesterday's viral moment?' …it's not just fear that drives engagement. It's the desire to know what others know. It's the urge to stay in the loop, to not be left behind in a world where being 'in the know' feels like a form of social capital. A 2020 study by the Nielsen Norman Group found that curiosity-driven headlines yielded 38% more engagement than urgency- or emotion-based ones (Nielsen Norman Group, 2020). What happens when marketers explicitly tell people not to do something? They do it. This reverse psychology taps into curiosity at its peak. Labels like 'Do Not Open' or 'Don't Click This Button' are proven to increase user interaction. A recent university experiment conducted at Rawalpindi Women University found that participants were significantly more likely to disobey 'Do Not Open' labels when the content was already familiar—demonstrating how familiarity + curiosity override social instructions (Iqbal, Fatima, & Team, 2024). This same principle now fuels behavioral game design. The interactive browser-based game Do Not Click – The Conformity Challenge uses curiosity as a mechanic to examine disobedience, peer pressure, and decision-making. The best digital platforms are engineered to trigger curiosity loops: Netflix starts autoplay previews before you choose. starts autoplay previews before you choose. Instagram truncates captions with a '…more' to encourage taps. truncates captions with a '…more' to encourage taps. YouTube thumbnails tease without revealing. Even shopping apps show you blurred 'exclusive deals' until you sign in. These are not flaws—they're deliberate features. They work by creating psychological tension that users resolve only through continued interaction. The reward? Higher engagement. Longer sessions. More clicks. More conversions. In a digital economy where attention spans are shrinking and content is infinite, marketers need to earn curiosity before they earn clicks. Here's how: Ask a Question Without Answering It Leave space for the user's brain to fill in the blanks. Tease, Don't Reveal Use mystery and ambiguity strategically. Use Familiarity to Trigger Disobedience As shown in university research, users are more likely to explore restricted or labeled content when it's recognizable. Design for Discovery Make sure your UI reveals content gradually—this increases time on page and emotional engagement. In an era of infinite content, what keeps users engaged isn't fear or loyalty. It's the itch they can't ignore—the pull of curiosity. If your brand isn't using curiosity marketing , you're leaving engagement on the table. So, as brands compete for attention in 2025 and beyond, the most powerful message you can send might not be 'Buy Now' or 'Limited Time Offer.' It might simply be: 'There's something you don't know yet…' Curiosity didn't just inspire this article—it shaped every word. As someone fascinated by human behavior in the digital age, I believe the real power in marketing lies not in manipulation, but in tapping into what genuinely moves us. Curiosity is one such force—quiet but irresistible. Upworthy. (2014). The Curiosity Gap. Retrieved from Gruber, M. J., Gelman, B. D., & Ranganath, C. (2014). States of curiosity modulate hippocampus-dependent learning via the dopaminergic circuit. Neuron, 84(2), 486–496. Loewenstein, G. (1994). The psychology of curiosity: A review and reinterpretation. Psychological Bulletin, 116(1), 75–98. Nielsen Norman Group. (2020). How Curiosity-Driven Headlines Improve Clickthrough and Engagement. Retrieved from TIME BUSINESS NEWS
9 News
03-07-2025
- Business
- 9 News
Today in History - July 4: World's third richest man opens wrong door and disappears
1 of 13 Attribution: Supplied The world's third richest man disappeared during a flight across the English channel on July 4, 1928. This is the last photo ever taken of Belgian financier Alfred Loewenstein. Midway through the flight on his private plane, Loewenstein got up to go to the bathroom.
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
FIFA Club World Cup kicks off 400 hours of soccer on Spanish language TV this summer
FIFA Club World Cup kicks off 400 hours of soccer on Spanish language TV this summer Show Caption Hide Caption FIFA Club World Cup will set stage for big things in United States The FIFA Club World Cup is set to take the global stage and two legendary managers explain how it will have an impact on fans and the 2026 World Cup. Sports Seriously The FIFA Club World Cup will kick off nearly 400 hours of soccer programming from Spanish language broadcaster TelelvisaUnivision this summer. The network is calling it "verano futbolero' – summer of football – and will air four major international tournaments on TV and live stream. Univision will produce and package all 63 Club World Cup matches available to live stream for free in English on DAZN, TelevisaUnivision president of global sports Olek Loewenstein told USA TODAY Sports. Univision, UniMás and TUDN will also broadcast 18 Club World Cup matches in Spanish, including the June 14 opener featuring Lionel Messi and the July 13 final. TNT will broadcast matches on TV in English. The Concacaf Gold Cup held June 15-July 7 will be available on Univision, UniMás, TUDN and ViX. The entire UEFA Women's Euro (July 2-27) and CONMEBOL Women's Copa America (July 12-August 2) will be available to stream on ViX with select games broadcasting on TUDN. The company will also broadcast this summer's Leagues Cup tournament, which pits clubs from Major League Soccer and LIGA MX in Mexico against each other from July 30-August 31. "When it comes to just pure hours of soccer programming this summer, we really are kind of at the forefront of making sure that the game – the beautiful game – is being consumed here in the United States,' Loewenstein said. The Club World Cup features 32 of the best soccer teams in the world, vying for their share of a $1 billion prize pool later this month. The reigning Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain and runner-up Inter Milan are in the field. Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid from Spain; Manchester City and Chelsea from England; Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund from Germany; Juventus from Italy; and other standout clubs from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico are in the mix. Along with Inter Miami, the Seattle Sounders and LAFC will represent Major League Soccer in the tournament. "Club World Cup is the first time the tournament this size happens. I'm excited to see how the U.S. receives the tournament. I think that's part of what I want to see,' Loewenstein said. 'But I'm also excited to see matchups that we always say we would want to see, and this is the first time you're actually going to get those, right? Everybody talks a big game on the league side of how big your team is and, 'If I played you in this game, I would be better.' And I think this is going to be a time where we're going to be able to see, comparatively, the power of the different big leagues in the world.' Messi and Inter Miami face Egyptian side Al Ahly at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium in the Club World Cup opener. The Club World Cup final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Club World Cup matches will also be played in Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington D.C. this summer.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Champions League magic, Club World Cup controversy: A blockbuster Saturday of soccer's contrasts
A blockbuster Saturday of soccer will begin with a game that needs no introduction. At 3 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. in Munich, the 2025 Champions League final will ignite. Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain will vie for the grandest prize in club football. Both are behemoths, rich and talented, so much so that they are also among the favorites at this summer's Club World Cup. Which brings us to Saturday's nightcap, a game that needs every introduction. At 10:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. in Los Angeles, LAFC and Mexican power Club América will vie for one last place in that Club World Cup. Globally, their 11th-hour playoff pales in comparison to the Champions League final. It has no precedent nor built-in prestige. It is a qualifier for an unproven tournament, one that neither LAFC nor América would have realistic hopes of winning. PSG and Inter, on the other hand, are playing to actually win a competition that's far more prestigious. One will enter the Club World Cup perched on a throne that many consider to be atop the sport. But here in North America, when Yahoo Sports asked TelevisaUnivision executive Olek Loewenstein about the Club World Cup's most attractive teams, and specifically about where Club América would rank if it qualified, he didn't hesitate. 'Oh, No. 1,' Loewenstein said. That, in part, is why this novel game is happening — and why it is, in FIFA's words, a 'blockbuster bout' in its own right. LAFC's BMO Stadium is sold out, with the cheapest resale tickets priced north of $200. While América regularly packs stadiums across the continent, even for friendlies, Saturday's game brings unique stakes. The winner will get at least $9.55 million in guaranteed prize money, and a global stage that neither club has ever had. Hype, it seems, is building. But it's a different type of hype than the one overtaking Paris, Milan and Munich. It has been manufactured in months, rather than developed over decades. And it epitomizes the contrasts between the UEFA Champions League and the Club World Cup, which is, in some ways, the UCL's upstart challenger. Perhaps now is the time for the Club World Cup introduction, and the explanation of a playoff that, a month ago, did not yet exist. The field for the inaugural 32-team, quadrennial club tournament had been set since the fall. North America's representatives were seemingly finalized when Pachuca won the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, the region's only known route to the Club World Cup. But then, in October, FIFA released the Club World Cup's regulations. Article 10 prohibited the participation of two clubs who share an owner — which, for Pachuca and fellow Mexican club León, became a problem. Both are owned by Grupo Pachuca. In March, citing this rule, FIFA expelled León, the 2023 CONCACAF champs, from its tournament. León players decried the 'grave,' 'brutal injustice' — 'football is stained by this,' James Rodríguez said — but FIFA was already considering replacements. Its rules gave it significant discretion. And its plan soon became clear. The Club World Cup's qualification criteria gave FIFA five or six realistic options. It could choose the Columbus Crew or LAFC, the runners-up to Pachuca and León in the last two CONCACAF finals. Or it could turn to its CONCACAF rankings, where Club América was the top unqualified team; Costa Rica's Alajuelense was the top team from a country with less than two participants; and the Philadelphia Union were the top team from a country with less than two standard qualifiers. The criteria stipulated that 'a cap of two clubs per country is applied' to those attempting to qualify via rankings. FIFA ignored that stipulation, picked LAFC and América, and pitted them against each other in this one-off 'play-in.' It is, in many ways, the perfect high-stakes appetizer for the Club World Cup. It's also par for the tournament's course. With skepticism and resistance dogging its launch, and with a need to sell tickets, broadcast rights and sponsorships, FIFA has reached for star power. It gave Lionel Messi's Inter Miami a 'host country' berth in October. More recently, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has talked up the possibility that Cristiano Ronaldo could join one of the qualified teams less than three weeks before kickoff. And now, FIFA will get either Major League Soccer's most valuable club or Mexico's winningest. LAFC was MLS' pre-Messi glamor club. América is the continent's most popular. They will duel in prime time for a place in Group D alongside Flamengo, ES Tunis and Chelsea. The Champions League final, on the other hand, does not have a sexy headliner. It does not have Real Madrid, nor Barcelona, nor an English Premier League power. It is the first final without them or Bayern Munich in over two decades. Some casual American fans might not find it all that intriguing. And yet, it will almost certainly be the most-watched sporting event on Earth in 2025. Even with Lautaro Martínez and Ousmane Dembélé — rather than Ronaldo or Messi, or Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé — as the stars, it hardly needs hype manufactured. And it does not need to be sold as 'the $26 million game,' even though its prize pot is larger than the Club World Cup's. It is lucrative, and increasingly commercialized, yes, but its appeal is not about money. Its appeal is simple: It's the Champions League. There are surely some fans and soccer execs who are bummed that Barcelona isn't playing in it. Ratings won't break records. Narratives, beyond PSG's unlikely resurgence and a possible first title, might not break through into the casual fan's consciousness. But there is magic in this competition, and in this singular match. Magic sourced in simplicity. For 70 years, the best clubs in Europe — which are almost always the best clubs in the world — have battled for supremacy. And inevitably, special things have happened. So, you wouldn't dare bet against more special things on Saturday. You might not know the magicians, yet, but you don't need to; and soon, you will. Inter and PSG might not give us a 13- or nine-goal thriller, as they did in the semis and quarters, respectively; but they'll surely give us drama, and emotions, all of which will sell itself.
