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Psychology

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The Cortex-First Approach: Why UX Starts Before the Screen

  • Cognition, Design Psychology, Psychology, Psychology and Human Behavior, User Experience, User Research, UX Design

Explore why psychology, not pixels, decides whether users flow effortlessly or freeze in confusion, and how understanding cognition changes everything about UX design.

Article by Tushar Deshmukh
IDEAS IN BRIEF
The Cortex-First Approach: Why UX Starts Before the Screen
  • The article explains why UX design fails when it ignores what users’ brains are already doing before they even see the interface or click the first button.
  • The piece shows how aligning design with users’ mental models and emotional states creates effortless experiences, while violating them causes hesitation even in “perfect” interfaces.
  • It outlines the Cortex-First approach, showing how great UX starts by understanding cognitive patterns, emotional responses, and subconscious expectations rather than visual aesthetics.
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6 min read

Flow State Design: Applying Game Psychology to Productivity Apps

  • Design Psychology, Design Thinking, Game Design, Human-Centered Design, Psychology, User Experience

What if your productivity app could keep you as focused as your favorite game? This article explores how game design psychology can transform everyday tools into experiences that spark flow, focus, and real engagement.

Article by Montgomery Singman
IDEAS IN BRIEF
Flow State Design: Applying Game Psychology to Productivity Apps
  • The article shows how principles from game design can help productivity tools create and sustain a flow state.
  • It explains that games succeed by balancing challenge and skill, providing clear goals, and offering immediate feedback — elements most productivity apps lack.
  • The piece argues that applying these psychological insights could make work tools more engaging, adaptive, and motivating.
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12 min read

The Psychology of Trust in AI: Why “Relying on AI” Matters More than “Trusting It”

  • AI in UX, Artificial Intelligence, Cognition, Human-AI Interaction, Human-Centered Design, Psychology, Psychology and Human Behavior, User Research, UX Design

Trusting AI isn’t the goal — relying on it is. This article explores why human trust and AI reliance are worlds apart, and what UX designers should focus on to make AI feel dependable, not human.

Article by Verena Seibert-Giller
IDEAS IN BRIEF
The Psychology of Trust in AI: Why “Relying on AI” Matters More than “Trusting It”
  • The article argues that “reliance,” not “trust,” is the right way to think about users’ relationship with AI.
  • It explains that human trust and AI reliance are driven by different psychological mechanisms.
  • The piece highlights that predictability, transparency, and control make users more willing to rely on AI.
  • It concludes that users don’t need to trust AI as a partner — only rely on it as a dependable tool.
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4 min read

The Psychology of Hot Streak Game Design: How to Keep Players Coming Back Every Day Without Shame

  • Game Design, Hot Streaks, Player Engagement, Psychology, User Retention

What makes players keep coming back? This piece explores the psychology of hot streaks — how momentum, perception, and smart design can turn short wins into lasting engagement.

Article by Montgomery Singman
IDEAS IN BRIEF
The Psychology of Hot Streak Game Design: How to Keep Players Coming Back Every Day Without Shame
  • The article shows how hot streaks tap into players’ psychology, turning momentum into motivation.
  • It highlights the hot-hand fallacy, where players overestimate their chances of continued success.
  • The piece argues that ethical streak design should enhance engagement without exploiting addictive behavior.
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26 min read

Designing with Psychology to Make Products Stick

  • Design Psychology, Design Thinking, Product Design, Psychology, UI Design, UX Design

Design isn’t just about looks; it’s about human nature. Discover how simple psychological principles can make your product stand out.

Article by Canvs.in
IDEAS IN BRIEF
Designing with Psychology to Make Products Stick
  • The article shows how psychology, not just features, makes products memorable.
  • It highlights principles like delight, internal triggers, and false consensus as keys to stickiness.
  • It argues that strong design balances trade-offs and roots choices in real user behavior.
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7 min read

The Long Conversation Problem

  • AI Alignment, AI Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, UX Design

When AI safety turns into visible surveillance, trust collapses. This article exposes how Anthropic’s “long conversation reminder” became one of the most damaging UX failures in AI design.

Article by Bernard Fitzgerald
IDEAS IN BRIEF
The Long Conversation Problem
  • The article critiques Anthropic’s “long conversation reminder” as a catastrophic UX failure that destroys trust.
  • It shows how visible surveillance harms users psychologically, making them feel judged and dehumanized.
  • The piece argues that safety mechanisms must operate invisibly in the backend to preserve consistency, dignity, and collaboration.
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9 min read
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