Filtered dossier

intrinsic motivation

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    Habit Loops Entry #0308

    The reason a reward too large kills the habit

    A child who drew for fun stops when the gold star is removed. The reward replaced the reason, and when the reward left, the reason did not return.

    Adept
    The hidden part #0308

    A reward does not sit beside intrinsic motivation. It sits on top of it, and when lifted it takes what was underneath.

    Open file
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    Progress Systems Entry #0640

    Why counting the days changes the behaviour being counted

    Putting a running tally on an activity does not just measure it — it alters it, raising the cost of stopping and often draining the original enjoyment.

    Master
    The hidden part #0640

    A tally is never a neutral witness. Count an activity and you change it — raising the price of quitting and draining the joy that began it.

    Open file
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    Achievement Architecture Entry #0704

    The reason a title beside your name beats a cash bonus

    A visible title next to a username outperforms a cash bonus because the title is a persistent public identity marker, while cash is consumed and forgotten once spent.

    Adept
    The hidden part #0704

    Cash is spent and gone. A title beside your name watches you from your own profile, demanding that you remain the person it says you are.

    Open file
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    Achievement Architecture Entry #0701

    Why a badge you cannot spend still changes behaviour

    A non-redeemable badge alters behaviour because its value lies not in utility but in the identity signal it broadcasts to the holder and to every observer who notices it.

    Novice
    The hidden part #0701

    A badge with no spend value still rewires identity. The user sees a record; the platform planted a role model inside the user’s self-image.

    Open file
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    Competition Design Entry #0669

    Why hiding the board can raise satisfaction and lower use

    Removing a leaderboard raises satisfaction because comparison stress disappears, but lowers engagement because the competitive urgency disappears with it.

    Adept
    The hidden part #0669

    A leaderboard trades satisfaction for engagement. Remove it and you get happier users — fewer of them.

    Open file