Why you should (probably) overpay for your gym membership
There's a gym down the hill from me--a really nice gym.It also happens to be a really expensive gym.The “initiation fee” is something like 500 dollars,…
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Introduction to Behavior-Based Design
In general, I think that a product is only as good as its ability to co-opt behavior. Techcrunch is littered with the stale remains of gorgeous products…
Floss one tooth. Write one sentence.
This last weekend, my worlds collided.I was sitting down with one of my mentors, and favorite copywriters, in Phoenix, Arizona.He was telling me his approach to…
Some of my favorite behavioral science sites
In response to yesterday’s email, I want to recommend some behavioral science resources that you, dear reader, can use to keep up-to-date with new research each…
Why You’ll Never Change Your Mind
We’ve all had the following experience:We put forward a fact, or make some point, only to have someone interrupt and tell us that we’re, actually, wrong.How…
Beware of this common predator
Today I want to warn you about a dangerous creature that lurks in the behavioral science and business worlds. While it goes by many names, I’m…
The Floating Brain: Learning in the 21st Century
Each of us, over time, builds a more and more comprehensive image of the world based upon our experiences and explorations. However, while this image of…
Why motivational speakers won’t change your behavior (in the long run)
About a year ago I went to a Tony Robbins seminar (and I loved it). The whole thing is one giant party. Half the time, you're…
The secret to having a career that leaves you poor and under-appreciated…
Last night I went to an art show here in San Francisco.The artist, who shall go unnamed, was showing a diverse array of work. She had…
No matter how wrong you are, you’re right
We’ve all had the following experience:We put forward a fact, or make some point, only to have someone interrupt and tell us that we’re, actually, wrong.How…
Don’t worry, Facebook won’t be able to listen in on your thoughts
We live in the age of neuroquackery. Almost everything you hear about the brain in the popular media is false.For example, serotonin is not the “happy…
An Incomplete Loop: A Review of Nir Eyal’s Hooked
In the last decade, the business and technology worlds have become obsessed with the science of the mind. The thinking goes as follows: if we understand…
Use psychology to slay it on Craigslist
“You’ve got yourself a deal.”Yes. Yes, I did.For a couple hundred smackeroos I was now the proud owner of two Powerblock 55 pound dumbbells and a…
The Unspoken Reasons Why We Shake Hands
Behind every behavior there are four potential explanations:It’s been done to solve a tangible and practical problem.It’s a habit (and thus an automatic response to a…
My Behavior Design Process (The SPARK Method)
The SPARK Method is a simplified version of the Behavioral Strategy Process I have a very simple behavior design process that I’ve been using for years.…
Supernatural… fighting skills?
I sat in on some fascinating presentations at The Human Behavior and Evolution Society conference today.One of my favorites was by a researcher named Jeremy Pollack.…
Why you tend to order the same thing as the person in front of you
You've probably experienced something like this before:You're waiting in line at a restaurant and trying to figure out what to order. You have a rough idea…
The behavior-design checklist
I want to answer the most common question I get: "What should I read to get started in behavior design?" I don't want to write out…
Design Like A Scientist
When I first started designing products, I used to mainly think about their aesthetics. That seems like the right, and obvious, thing to do. However, product…
You’re Not Cynical Enough
There are two types of people in the world: those who believe that perfection exists in this life, and those who believe that every solution is…
Why you should never start a project without a behavioral scientist
Let’s pretend you’re a plastic surgeon for a moment. You’re known for creating the most beautiful, elegant noses. People come from far and wide to have…
No. Being exposed to money doesn’t make you more selfish
Repeat after me: If it sounds like magic, it probably is."If it sounds like magic, it probably is."OK. Good.I actually used to have this statement written…
If you aren’t easily forming habits, you have the wrong approach
Forming habits isn't hard. In fact, it's easy when you pick the right behaviors. The problem is that picking the right behaviors requires a good deal…
Menus are ripe for behavioral science disruption
Yesterday, as I was looking at the menu of a restaurant here in Bentonville, Arkansas, I had a thought: Why don’t restaurants put their most expensive…
Can you hear what the buildings are saying?
This weekend I’ve been in New York. What. A. City.One of the most astounding things about it is the old, ornate architecture you see everywhere–especially in the…
We’ve Built a New Dimension: The #1 Reason to Be Optimistic About Technology
It’s easy to be disenchanted with the current state of technology. Some people bemoan the broken promises of the Jetsons and ask where the flying cars…
The Pros and Cons of Overconfidence
All of us think that we’re more “special” and capable than we are. This phenomenon has many different names in the psychological literature, but my personal…
Biology = Behavior
My buddy looked into my eyes and told me about his lack of energy.“I’m just out of it all the time. I’m tired. I don’t know…
Put down that hammer–please
“Give a small boy a hammer, and he will find that everything he encounters needs pounding” – Abraham Kaplan “If all you have is a hammer,…
This is why you can’t sleep well when traveling…
I’ve been out of it the last three days. I’m tired.This always happens when I travel. Usually, I get a terrible night of sleep the first…
The Easiest Way To Change Your Life?
Do what you like. It's that simple. Each year, a new book comes out with some proprietary self improvement or habit formation method. These books will…
Here’s What Makes an Addictive Product, According to Social Scientists
We're social creatures. Each of us is sustained by the attention and positive gestures of friends and acquaintances. Whenever we get a smile or a laugh…
The Joy Method: A Simple and Effective Model For Personal Transformation
This page will outline my behavior-change and personal transformation approach. My behavior-change approach can be called “The Joy Method”. My personal transformation approach can be called…
4 Cognitive Traps Even the Smartest People Fall Into
It's hard to come up with elegant solutions to complex problems. That's why we businesspeople are able to get the big bucks. However, most of us…
Most behavior change is behavior amplification
Back in 2011, BJ Fogg and I came up with what we called “The Behavior Wizard” (great name, I know). It was based on our work…
Why the dread is often worse than the damage
Yesterday, I clamped my teeth down on a small gray piece of plastic and waited. Two white wands slowly moved around my head. I was getting…
So you want to pick the right behavior…
Over the next four minutes, I'm going to lead you through the process I go through when I'm choosing a behavior for a behavior-change project. I'll…
According to these researchers, willpower is NOT a limited resource
It seems like an iron rule of nature: the longer you do something, the more tired you get.During the first mile of your daily run, you’re…
A lot of “behavior change” problems are just health problems in disguise
A lot of “behavior change” problems are just health problems in disguise. For most of my life, I had a hard time concentrating. Whenever…
Bad self-esteem can actually be a good signal
“Yeah, it’s because he has low self-esteem”I can’t remember how many times I’ve heard ‘low self-esteem’ used to explain why someone acted the way they did.If…
Real Change: Moving Beyond Habits to Achieve Lasting Transformation
Read Real Change and explore the companion worksheets.
Explore habit trading and transformative practices with Jason Hreha.