Scientific Definition
A strategy to influence behavior by amplifying fear and uncertainty.
Plain-English Definition
A strategy to influence behavior by amplifying fear and uncertainty.
Feynman Explanation
When you can't sell the product, sell the danger of the alternative.
Core Principle
A strategy to influence behavior by amplifying fear and uncertainty.
Mechanisms
Pending editorial review.
A strategy to influence behavior by amplifying fear and uncertainty.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
FUD is a recognized competitive technique — both offensive and defensive.
Inputs (Triggers)
Pending editorial review.
Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
When you can't sell the product, sell the danger of the alternative.
Examples
- Incumbent vendors fighting open-source by raising risk narratives.
- FUD is a recognized competitive technique — both offensive and defensive.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Address FUD with evidence, not with counter-FUD.
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.
- Address FUD with evidence, not with counter-FUD.
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.
Predicting how we will feel in the future, usually inaccurately.
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The drive to explore and understand for its own sake.
Emotional states distort cognition and decision-making.
When the limbic system overrides higher cognition and behavior follows ancient circuits, not chosen values.
The capacity to recognize, understand, and manage emotions — your own and others'.
Negative emotions fade faster than positive ones.
Effects of an intervention spread to other areas beyond the intended target.
Basics first (health/finances), then depth (mastery/impact), then altruism (widening circle).
A problem whose solution requires people to change their values, beliefs, or habits — not just apply expertise.
Holding a different — and correct — set of tools than everyone else.
Someone who incites others to take illegal or rash action, often to expose or discredit them.