Scientific Definition
Systems that shape our future
Plain-English Definition
Systems that shape our future
Feynman Explanation
Systems that shape our future
Core Principle
Systems that shape our future
Mechanisms
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Inputs (Triggers)
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Outputs (Behaviors)
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Behavioral Signature
Systems that shape our future
Examples
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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.
Aligns effort with group goals
Profit, penalties, and prices
Measure drives behavior
Laws, subsidies, taxes, penalties
Attract behavior with upside
Complex adaptive systems
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.
Written rules about how AI may be used internally.
Earn-outs designed to retain founders often demotivate the team they bought.
Funnels rewarded for new logos under-invest in retention and lifetime value.