Scientific Definition
Seeing patterns in random data.
Plain-English Definition
Seeing patterns in random data.
Feynman Explanation
Three customers complained about the same thing. We declare a trend.
Core Principle
Seeing patterns in random data.
Mechanisms
Seeing patterns in random data.
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Inputs (Triggers)
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Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
Three customers complained about the same thing. We declare a trend.
Examples
- Reorgs based on five anecdotes that fit the executive's existing hypothesis.
- Strategic decisions made on noise dressed as signal.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Statistical significance thresholds before any 'pattern' becomes a decision.
Measurement Approaches
Pending editorial review.
Evidence
Pending editorial review.
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The Perverse Incentive Lens™
How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.
- Statistical significance thresholds before any 'pattern' becomes a decision.
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.
Perceiving meaningful connections in unrelated things.
People look better in groups than as individuals.
Prior solutions block better new ones.
Seeing things only in their conventional use.
Familiarity breeds approval.
Bad lands harder than good.
Doing something feels safer than doing nothing — even when nothing wins.
Feelings act as shortcuts for facts.
We prefer known risks to unknown ones, even when the unknown is better.
Over-reliance on the first number that hits the table.
We judge frequency by how easily examples come to mind.
We ignore underlying probabilities in favor of vivid specifics.