Scientific Definition
Presenting two options as the only possibilities.
Plain-English Definition
Presenting two options as the only possibilities.
Feynman Explanation
'Either we cut 20% or we go under.' (Or we think harder.)
Core Principle
Presenting two options as the only possibilities.
Mechanisms
Presenting two options as the only possibilities.
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Inputs (Triggers)
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Outputs (Behaviors)
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Behavioral Signature
'Either we cut 20% or we go under.' (Or we think harder.)
Examples
- Strategy framed as 'transform or die' to suppress the third option.
- Eliminates the third, fourth, and best options before they're spoken.
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Famous Experiments
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Design Principles
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Measurement Approaches
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Evidence
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The Perverse Incentive Lens™
How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.
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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.
Attacking the person rather than the argument.
It's true because authority says so.
Common sense says so, therefore it's true.
Believing something is true because of the consequences of its truth.
Claiming something is true because it hasn't been proven false (or vice versa).
If it's 'natural,' it's good.
It's better because it's newer.
It's right because it's how we've always done it.
I can't believe it; therefore it isn't true.
Saying it enough times until it sounds true.
It's true because many believe it.
Asking the other side to disprove an unsupported claim.