MENTAL MODELS: OWNERSHIP BIAS

WE MORE HIGHLY VALUE GOODS OR SERVICES ONCE WE FEEL LIKE WE OWN THEM.

How might this apply to your business?

In what ways can people “take ownership” on your site or with your experience? In competitive environments, people are more likely to take actions to protect things already in their possession. In some contexts, you can encourage people to provide personal data by associating default values with a person’s online identity. If switching systems is your goal, beware that people may value their current choice more than they should.

See also: Loss Aversion, Autonomy, Status Quo Bias, Framing

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In the whirl of our day-to-day interactions, it’s all too easy to forget the nuances that distinguish great teams, great cultures, and great products/services.

Mental Model Flash Cards bring together insights from psychology into an easy reference and brainstorming tool. Each card describes one insight into human behavior and suggests ways to apply this to your teams as well as the design of your products and services.

MENTAL MODEL: LIMITED DURATION

GIVEN A CHOICE BETWEEN ACTION AND INACTION, A LIMITED TIME TO RESPOND INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT PEOPLE WILL PARTICIPATE.

How might this apply to your business?
While commonly used to promote purchasing behaviors, limited durations can also be used to shape day-to-day behaviors. Set limited times when certain actions can be taken. Make rewards available at specific times or have options that disappear if no action is taken within a specific period of time.

See also: Loss Periodic Events, Loss Aversion, Reputation, Status, Achievements, Feedback Loops, Scarcity, Self-Expression

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In the whirl of our day-to-day interactions, it’s all too easy to forget the nuances that distinguish great teams, great cultures, and great products/services.

Mental Model Flash Cards bring together insights from psychology into an easy reference and brainstorming tool. Each card describes one insight into human behavior and suggests ways to apply this to your teams as well as the design of your products and services.

MENTAL MODELS: SELF-EXPRESSION

PEOPLE SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS THEIR PERSONALITY, FEELINGS, OR BIAS.

How might this apply to your business?
How are people allowed to express themselves on your site? Selecting widgets, choosing content to follow or share, using emoticons, and customizing the aesthetics of a page are all ways to enable self-expression. At the simplest level, allowing comments can be a good start, but make sure these efforts are linked back to a person’s profile. How does this translate to self-expression within a team? How are people encouraged and allowed to contribute unique talents, interpret team or organizational values in a way that is personal to them?

Look for ways to surface and celebrate these unique customizations.

See also: Ownership Bias, Loss Aversion, Reputation, Need for Achievement, Visual Imagery, Autonomy

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In the whirl of our day-to-day interactions, it’s all too easy to forget the nuances that distinguish great teams, great cultures, and great products/services.

Mental Model Flash Cards bring together insights from psychology into an easy reference and brainstorming tool. Each card describes one insight into human behavior and suggests ways to apply this to your teams as well as the design of your products and services.

MENTAL MODELS: FRAMING

THE WAY IN WHICH ISSUES AND DATA ARE STATED CAN ALTER OUR JUDGMENT AND AFFECT DECISIONS.

How might this apply to your business?

How are you presenting choices in your system? What are the available options? An implied story makes the most desirable choice more obvious, especially for new or difficult concepts. For example, framing donations as costing “less than a cup of coffee a day” encourages people to rationalize a monthly pledge.

See also: Conceptual Metaphor, Story, Loss Aversion