How your mind perceives "expensive"

**ironmaiden** · 02-25-2008, 04:23 PM

This is a very interesting article featured in the Sunday Boston Globe's Ideas section. It explains that your brain physically reacts differently when you "perceive" something to be more desirable/expensive.
It gives you a whole new perspective on keeping up with the Joneses.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/id..._expectations/

**Sara Noel** · 02-25-2008, 08:32 PM

I just read something over the weekend that was similar. Maybe it was online recent news...anyway it said something about kids not liking Mcdonalds food if it was removed from its packaging.

**emily_hope** · 02-25-2008, 09:43 PM

That was an interesting article. Thanks for sharing.

**dianne9106** · 02-25-2008, 10:20 PM

Hmmm, well I always buy the generic brand of cold medicine unless I have a coupon. For me, the cheaper the shoes the better - that means I can buy a bag to match (LOL)

I do see the point of some of the experiments about wines - I lived in Italy and Americans were the worst wine tasters! It didn't matter to most Italians what they drank with dinner - hence the table wine.
I do agree with the expectations! Though I am going to buck the whole thing right here. Okay - I have been dreaming about wanting to buy a Honda Odyssey. So this weekend I test drive the 2008 (no way I was going to buy - it was brand new! - but the salesman didn't understand). I expected to drive a cloud! It was nice - but it was toooo much! It wasn't "frugal" in it's design thus turned out to be more inconvenient with some of the flashy features. Basically I told the poor guy that the cup holders were too small and I would be back in two years when they had used 2008's on the lot!
I really enjoyed the article!
Dianne

**kittykatstrong** · 02-25-2008, 11:03 PM

I found that interesting. I do find that to be true in some cases. Like art maybe I just don;t get it but there is some art that I look at and think did my 3year old paint that.

**peanut** · 02-26-2008, 11:59 AM

Very interesting. I forwarded it to my DH who was convinced this past weekend that nothing but expensive Rockport shoes would fit his feet, and had to have a Helly Hansen jacket. Thankfully the jacket was on sale!

Jean