Author: Nir Eyal – Stanford MBA, behavioral design expert, and lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Former video game designer who reverse-engineered addictive tech patterns ethically.
Key Insights:
This controversial playbook reveals the psychology behind habit-forming tech:
The Hook Model (4 Steps):
Trigger (External: Notifications / Internal: Boredom)
Action (Simplest behavior: Scroll, Tap)
Variable Reward (Likes? Discounts? New content?)
Investment (Profiles, data, streaks that increase stickiness)
Case Studies:
Why Instagram’s "pull-to-refresh" mimics slot machines
How LinkedIn’s "profile completeness" bar exploits OCD
Ethical Lines:
Manipulation vs. Empowerment