Psychology & Behavioral Science & Cognitive Effects

Pratfall Effect

Making mistakes or showing vulnerability can make people more relatable and likable.

Ben Franklin Effect

People are more likely to do a favor for you if they have already done a favor for you before.

Barnum Effect

People accept vague, general personality statements as accurate for themselves.

Dunning-Kruger Effect

People with low ability tend to overestimate their competence, while high performers often underestimate their abilities.

Confirmation Bias

We prioritize and remember information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs.

Fundamental Attribution Error

We overestimate personality and underestimate situational influences when explaining others’ actions.

Availability Heuristic

People overestimate the likelihood of rare, memorable events due to how easily examples come to mind.

Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon

After learning about something new, you start seeing it everywhere.

Zeigarnik Effect

Unfinished or interrupted tasks are remembered better than completed ones.

Social Facilitation

The presence of others improves performance on simple tasks but worsens performance on complex tasks.

Bystander Effect

Individuals are less likely to help in emergencies if others are present.

Interpersonal Deception Theory

Deception is interactive and both sender and receiver influence the outcome.

Spontaneous Trait Transference

Traits you describe in others get unconsciously attributed to you.

Impostor Syndrome

High-achievers feel like frauds despite evidence of success.

Illusion of Transparency

People overestimate how much others can perceive their thoughts or feelings.

Pygmalion Effect

High expectations from others can lead to improved performance.

Cognitive Appraisal

Your emotional response depends on how you interpret and evaluate situations.

Prolonged Eye Contact

Can increase trust and connection; avoidance may signal discomfort.

Spacing Effect

Information is better retained when reviewed over spaced intervals.

Production Effect

We remember material better if we read it out loud.

Doorway Effect

Walking through a doorway often causes us to forget what we intended to do.

Smell & Memory

Scents are closely tied to memory and can trigger vivid recollections.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Facial expressions can influence our emotions.

Oxytocin & Hugging

Hugging releases oxytocin, promoting bonding and reducing stress.

Blushing

When you blush, your stomach lining also turns red.

Yawning

Helps regulate brain temperature and can be socially contagious.

Prefrontal Cortex Development

Responsible for decision-making/impulse control; matures around age 25.

Decoy Effect

Adding a less-attractive option makes one of the other choices more appealing.

Uncanny Valley

Human-like objects that aren't quite realistic can evoke unease.

Diderot Effect

New possessions can trigger a cycle of more consumption to fit with what you have.

Peak-End Rule

We judge experiences by how they felt at the peak and the end.

Law 1 from '48 Laws of Power'

'Never Outshine the Master,' don’t appear more competent than your superiors.

Pattern Recognition

Our brains are wired to detect patterns in data.

Color Red

Increases arousal and stimulates appetite; often used in food branding.

Cocktail Party Effect

Ability to focus on one conversation in noise while noticing relevant cues.

Brain Drain Effect

Having a smartphone nearby can reduce cognitive performance.

Little Albert Experiment

Demonstrated how fear could be conditioned in humans.

Mirror-Touch Synesthesia

Some people feel sensations when seeing others touched.

Deindividuation

In group settings, individuals may lose self-identity and act impulsively.

Sarcasm and Cognition

Understanding sarcasm shows mental flexibility and verbal intelligence.

Being in Love & OCD

Brain chemistry in love can be similar to that in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Planning Fallacy

People often underestimate the time needed to complete tasks.

Multitasking

Reduces productivity due to the mental cost of switching tasks.

Hindsight Bias

Tendency to see past events as predictable after they’ve occurred.

Ramadan & Mood

Fasting can boost serotonin, improving mood and mental well-being.