Cognitive Structure: Humans naturally avoid complicated or confusing interfaces. If all headlines in a newspaper are the same size as the body text, they won’t seem inviting to read. The human brain is built to operate efficiently. However, human cognitive abilities often don’t reach their full potential. Any interface that goes against this instinct is likely to fail. No one enjoys taking tests every day, right? To increase sales in an online shopping mall, it’s important to provide an interface that requires minimal mental effort from consumers. To protect the environment, instead of setting “spoons or forks” as the default delivery option in a food delivery app, offering a choice to select separately can help reduce waste. To promote positive consumer behavior, create a comfortable environment; to discourage negative behavior, make the process complex and frustrating. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Paradoxically, one of the reasons for Rome’s demise was that it kept winning wars. Victories expanded the empire’s territory, and the risks increased proportionally. Men, primarily middle-class men, volunteered as soldiers; the larger the territory, the longer the wars lasted, and the longer it took for them to return home. The women who remained at home were forced to borrow labor and became indebted to the nobility. Eventually, the women were sold into slavery, and by the time the men returned, their families had disintegrated. People don’t betray because they’re evil, but because it increases their risk. If the territory you’re in grows, you might reconsider your loyalties to the organization. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”