Lesson 036 chapters~2 min
The Behavioral Foundations
Understand the repeatable psychological forces beneath triggers, rewards, unfinished tasks, social obligation, investment, and loss. Every successful consumer product leverages psychological principles — whether the builders know it or not. This lesson covers the foundational psychology that underpins engagement engineering, from academic frameworks to their real-world application in the products that consume billions of hours of human attention daily.
Learning outcomes
- Map a behavior loop without confusing activity for value
- Choose predictable versus variable rewards intentionally
- Spot when commitment becomes coercive rather than useful
Field assignment
Take one recurring product behavior and map its trigger, action, reward, investment, social context, and perceived loss if the user stops.
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All 6 chapters open with the Basic or Advanced edition.
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