Scientific Definition
Outrage outperforms accuracy on every engagement metric.
Plain-English Definition
Outrage outperforms accuracy on every engagement metric.
Feynman Explanation
The algorithm doesn't have an opinion. It has an objective function.
Core Principle
Outrage outperforms accuracy on every engagement metric.
Mechanisms
Pending editorial review.
Outrage outperforms accuracy on every engagement metric.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Platform incentives shape public discourse without anyone deciding to.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Inputs (Triggers)
Pending editorial review.
Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
The algorithm doesn't have an opinion. It has an objective function.
Examples
- Recommendation systems optimizing watch time produce radicalization as a byproduct.
- Platform incentives shape public discourse without anyone deciding to.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Multi-metric optimization. Independent algorithmic audits.
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.
- Multi-metric optimization. Independent algorithmic audits.
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.
Headlines optimized for clicks become editorial policy.
Authenticity becomes a performance the moment it becomes a paycheck.
Ranking systems trained on engagement amplify outrage, fear, and tribal content.
Confident incorrect outputs may rank higher than hedged correct ones.
Discount framing nudges people to buy things they wouldn't otherwise want.
Productivity targets compress visits, raising misdiagnosis and burnout.
A federal mandate intended to lower drug costs for the poor became a profit engine for hospitals and contract pharmacies.
Earn-outs designed to retain founders often demotivate the team they bought.
Funnels rewarded for new logos under-invest in retention and lifetime value.
Free products monetize attention, structurally aligning incentives against user time well spent.
Tenure-track jobs replaced by low-paid adjuncts, lowering cost and quality.
Training for appearance can crowd out mobility, longevity, and mental health.