Scientific Definition
Subconscious preference for numbers (and letters) that appear in our own name or birthday.
Plain-English Definition
Subconscious preference for numbers (and letters) that appear in our own name or birthday.
Feynman Explanation
Implicit egotism, hiding in plain sight.
Core Principle
Subconscious preference for numbers (and letters) that appear in our own name or birthday.
Mechanisms
Pending editorial review.
Subconscious preference for numbers (and letters) that appear in our own name or birthday.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Tiny biases compound in high-volume decisions like hiring or pricing.
Inputs (Triggers)
Pending editorial review.
Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
Implicit egotism, hiding in plain sight.
Examples
- Investors mildly preferring tickers that share initials with them.
- Tiny biases compound in high-volume decisions like hiring or pricing.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Strip identifying numbers from option sets when possible.
Measurement Approaches
Pending editorial review.
Evidence
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
The Perverse Incentive Lens™
How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.
- Strip identifying numbers from option sets when possible.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Interactive Mini Network
Click any neighbor to re-center the graph and follow the threads of connection.
Knowledge Graph Neighbors
Auto-linked to the rest of the Human Behavior Taxonomy by family, domain, dimension, and shared keywords.
We accept vague, general statements as personally meaningful.
We come to like people we've done a favor for, more than people who've helped us.
A persuasive message produces the opposite of its intended effect.
The threat of retaliation suppresses legitimate speech or action.
Higher rates of mistreatment toward stepchildren than biological children.
Renewed interest in a stimulus when a novel stimulus is introduced.
We recognize faces from our own race more accurately than others.
Underestimating how common our positive traits and behaviors are.
We accept vague, positive personality descriptions as highly accurate.
People change behavior when they know they are being observed.
Competent people become more likable after a small visible mistake.
A group decides on a course of action that nobody actually wants, because everyone assumes others prefer it.