Ideas

Users have a preconceived opinion of how things work MENTAL MODEL DEFINITION A mental model is an explanation of someone's thought process about how something works in the real world.…

Users have a desire to seek out missing information CURIOSITY GAP DEFINITION The curiosity gap is the space between what users know and what they want or need to know.…

People value things more when they're in limited supply SCARCITY DEFINITION While scarcity is typically invoked to encourage purchasing behaviors, it can also be used to increase quality by encouraging…

Users adapt their behaviors based on what others do SOCIAL PROOF DEFINITION Social proof is a convenient shortcut that users take to determine how to behave. When they are unsure…

Users are less overwhelmed if they're exposed to complex features later PROGRESSIVE DISCLOSURE DEFINITION An interface is easier to use when complex features are gradually revealed later. During the onboarding,…

Subtle hints can affect user's decision NUDGE DEFINITION People tend to make decisions unconsciously. Small cues or context changes can encourage users to make a certain decision without forcing them.…

Users rely heavily on the first piece of information they see ANCHORING BIAS DEFINITION The initial information that users get affects subsequent judgments. Anchoring often works even when the nature…

Total amount of mental effort that is required to complete task COGNITIVE LOAD DEFINITION Cognitive load is the total amount of mental effort that is required to complete a task.…

Previous stimuli influence user's decision PRIMING DEFINITION Subtle visual or verbal suggestions help users recall specific information, influencing how they respond. Priming works by activating an association or representation in…

People look for evidence that confirms what they think CONFIRMATION BIAS DEFINITION People tend to search for, interpret, prefer, and recall information in a way that reinforces their personal beliefs…