Why the Hook Model Creates Addicts, Not Habits
Short answer: The Hook Model is Nir Eyal’s four-step habit cycle: Trigger, Action, Variable Reward, and Investment. He…
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The Blog
Ideas on motivation, behavior & design.
Deep dives on the psychology behind why people do what they do — from Yu-kai Chou, creator of the Octalysis Framework. Pick the topic that matters to you.
Why Friction Creates Meaning (And Convenience Kills It)
Every game designer, product manager, and UX lead I talk to is obsessed with the same thing: reducing…
Cialdini’s 6 Principles of Persuasion: S-Tier Behavioral Designer’s Guide
Cialdini’s 6 principles of persuasion are the most widely taught compliance framework in marketing, sales, and behavioral science:…
Why Users Can’t Leave: How Personalization Creates the Ultimate Switching Cost
Have you ever thought about switching from Spotify to Apple Music, then realized you’d lose years of perfectly…
Why I’d Rather Lose Every Client Than Be the Cheapest Option
Most consultants make the same fatal pricing mistake. They look at what competitors charge, pick a number slightly…
Conversion Copywriting: Why Pain-First Messaging Converts
Here’s something that bothers me about how most marketers write landing page copy: they lead with their product.…
Why Flow Theory Only Explains Half of Engagement
Editor’s note: This essay is the companion piece to the pillar guide Flow Theory: S-Tier Designer’s Guide (Csikszentmihalyi)…