Speaking of Psychology
Speaking of Psychology
American Psychological Association
Tip or skip? What drives our tipping behavior, with Michael Lynn, PhD
26 minutes Posted Apr 15, 2026 at 7:30 am.
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Show notes
Tipping has long been a part of service culture in the U.S., but in the last few years, the number of places where we're asked to tip has multiplied. Social psychologist and tipping researcher Michael Lynn, PhD, discusses “tip creep” and how digital payment screens are reshaping expectations; why social norms drive our tipping behavior; how tipping norms vary from country to country; how biases affect who gets tipped more; and whether tipping is a fair way to compensate people.
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