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Vladas Griskevicius

Vladas Griskevicius

Vladas Griskevicius is the McKnight Associate Professor of Marketing and Psychology. He studies the evolutionary roots of modern consumer behavior and decision making. Griskevicius has published over 40 articles in top business and psychology journals examining sustainability, green marketing, motivation, emotion, social influence, social norms, and conspicuous consumption.

Griskevicius is co-author with Doug Kenrick of the forthcoming book THE RATIONAL ANIMAL: How Evolution Made Us Smarter Than We Think (Basic Books). The book examines the hidden evolutionary wisdom of seemingly senseless decisions, revealing how choices regarding everything from money to marriage are influenced by deep-seated ancestral needs.

Griskevicius has received numerous awards for his teaching and research, including the Early Career Award from the Society for Consumer Psychology, Best Article Award from the Journal of Consumer Research, named "Young Scholar" by the Marketing Science Institute, Best Paper Award from the Society for Consumer Psychology, the SAGE Scholar Early Career Award from the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, and multiple awards from the Human Behavior and Evolution Society. He also recently received the Best Teacher Award at the Carlson School of Management and two major grants from the National Science Foundation. His research is regularly featured in the media, including the Discovery Channel, the Economist, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC News, FOX News, CNN, and TIME magazine.

Primary Interests:

  • Communication, Language
  • Emotion, Mood, Affect
  • Evolution and Genetics
  • Helping, Prosocial Behavior
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Motivation, Goal Setting
  • Persuasion, Social Influence
  • Social Cognition

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Video Gallery

1:40 Featured SVG

Why Do Women Spend Billions on Designer Handbags and Shoes?

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  • 1:40

    Why Do Women Spend Billions on Designer Handbags and Shoes?

    Length: 1:40


  • 2:23

    Buying Green to Be Seen

    Length: 2:23


  • 1:59

    How Can the Ratio of Men to Women Affect the Behavior of Men?

    Length: 1:59


  • 2:48

    The Right Approach to Sustainability

    Length: 2:48


  • 2:04

    Power and Influence: Learn How to Get What You Want

    Length: 2:04


  • 3:37

    Spending on Daughters vs. Sons in Recessions

    Length: 3:37


  • 1:54

    "Coffee with Carlson" Interview

    Length: 1:54


  • 1:30

    How Do Marketers Exploit Our Evolutionary Tendencies for Profit?

    Length: 1:30


  • 3:11

    Cognitive Adaptations to Stressful Environments

    Length: 3:11


  • 14:28

    Life in Business School: The Good, the Bad, the Different

    Length: 14:28


  • 1:40

    Power and Influence: Make Time For This Class

    Length: 1:40


  • 2:04

    Power and Influence

    Length: 2:04


  • 11:20

    Rationality and Evolution: Part I

    Length: 11:20


  • 8:57

    Rationality and Evolution: Part II

    Length: 8:57


  • 6:56

    Rationality and Evolution: Part III

    Length: 6:56



Journal Articles:

Courses Taught:

  • Advertising and Marketing Communications
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Evolution and Social Behavior
  • Marketing Communications
  • Social Influence and Persuasion
  • Social Psychology

Vladas Griskevicius
Carlson School of Management
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
321 Nineteenth Avenue South, Suite 3-150
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
United States of America

  • Phone: (612) 626-3793
  • Fax: (612) 624-8804

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