Scientific Definition
Removing natural stopping cues turns intentional use into compulsive use.
Plain-English Definition
Removing natural stopping cues turns intentional use into compulsive use.
Feynman Explanation
The pause used to be the product.
Core Principle
Removing natural stopping cues turns intentional use into compulsive use.
Mechanisms
Pending editorial review.
Removing natural stopping cues turns intentional use into compulsive use.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Design pattern as time-extraction mechanism.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Inputs (Triggers)
Pending editorial review.
Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
The pause used to be the product.
Examples
- Pagination-to-infinite-scroll conversions across feeds.
- Design pattern as time-extraction mechanism.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Optional stopping cues. Session-budget defaults.
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.
- Optional stopping cues. Session-budget defaults.
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.
Easy to start, hard to leave.
Free products monetize attention, structurally aligning incentives against user time well spent.
CTR-driven distribution rewards misleading framing over accurate reporting.
Retroactive extensions privilege legacy estates over public-domain enrichment.
Per-view payouts reward volume and frequency over craft and depth.
Tax/inspection exemptions on low-value parcels subsidize a flood of unverified imports.
Revenue from behavioral targeting structurally opposes user privacy.
Ranking systems trained on engagement amplify outrage, fear, and tribal content.
Time-on-app is the wrong thing to maximize for users — but the right thing for revenue.
Notifications calibrated for return visits, not value.
USPTO budget tied to grant fees encourages permissive examination.
DAU/MAU goals override product safety and wellbeing investments.