Are we wired to make money? Or to lose it? “Nova” (7 p.m., PBS, check local listings) examines the role of psychology and emotions in financial markets and the making of bubbles and other market disasters.

Along the way, “Nova” looks at the innate desire of people to “win” something, anything, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. To demonstrate this point, the filmmakers hold an auction where a $20 bill eventually sells for $28. This is a classic experiment in behavioral economics. “It’s designed to be a trap,” says Richard Thaler, professor of Behavioral Economics at the University of Chicago. “The emotional desire to win drives the bidding and leads to a situation in which two people are trying to lose the least.”

“Nova” examines how such impulses are repeated millions of times a day across marketplaces, with profound effects on us all.

• “The Vaccine War” on “Frontline” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) looks at another struggle between rationality and emotions. Over the decades, medical science has eliminated many dreaded childhood diseases with vaccinations. Formerly widespread afflictions, such as measles, polio, whooping cough and others, have all but vanished in the United States.

But the success of such science has made doubters of many parents, too young to recall widespread communicable diseases and often wary of the side effects of official science. As we learn here, the folks most likely to resist vaccinations for their children often live in affluent urban areas and college towns.

Many medical professionals see vaccine-resistant communities as potential time bombs, as many are exposed to international visitors who may come from areas where these diseases — long since eradicated here — may still be widespread.

Tonight’s other highlights

• The top six perform on “American Idol” (7 p.m., Fox).

• Deeks joins the team on “NCIS: Los Angeles” (8 p.m., CBS).

• Kurt’s quest for domestic tranquility hits a speed bump on “Glee” (8 p.m., Fox).

• Richard faces a terrible choice on “Lost” (8 p.m., ABC).

• Alicia takes on her former boss in the courtroom on “The Good Wife” (9 p.m., CBS).

• The Fifth Column may already be known to the invaders on “V” (9 p.m., ABC).

• Adam finds himself in charge on “Parenthood” (9 p.m., NBC).

• Raylon wants to get to the root of an attempt on Ava on “Justified” (9 p.m., FX).

Cult choice

John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd celebrate, borrow from and collaborate with R&B greats in the 1980 comedy “The Blues Brothers” (9:05 p.m., Encore).