Scientific Definition
We spend less when holding large bills than small ones — same money, different behavior.
Plain-English Definition
We spend less when holding large bills than small ones — same money, different behavior.
Feynman Explanation
A $100 bill feels different from five $20s.
Core Principle
We spend less when holding large bills than small ones — same money, different behavior.
Mechanisms
Pending editorial review.
We spend less when holding large bills than small ones — same money, different behavior.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Granularity of measurement changes behavior.
Inputs (Triggers)
Pending editorial review.
Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
A $100 bill feels different from five $20s.
Examples
- Capital budgets denominated in millions are spent more cautiously than the same in thousands.
- Granularity of measurement changes behavior.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Choose units that match the decision discipline you want.
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.
- Choose units that match the decision discipline you want.
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.
A color appears different depending on adjacent colors.
The ability to focus on one voice in a noisy environment.
Evaluations are warped by what came immediately before.
One new possession spirals into a cascade of complementary purchases.
Selling winners too early and holding losers too long.
We overweight one aspect of an event when predicting its impact.
One negative trait taints judgment of everything else about a person or company.
Evaluated separately, the smaller-but-complete option beats the larger-but-flawed one.
Goals become the focus, sometimes at the expense of the underlying purpose.
'Free' is a different psychological category — disproportionately attractive.
How will I feel about this in 10 minutes / 10 months / 10 years?
Inattention or forgetfulness caused by low attention, hyperfocus, or distraction.