Behavioral Basics
The term for increasing the likelihood of a behavior by rewarding it.
What is positive reinforcement?
According to research, this emotion spreads fastest and farthest on social media.
What is anger?
The psychologist whose operant conditioning work laid the foundation for behavior modification.
Who is B.F. Skinner?
This type of polarization is about differing beliefs or policies (e.g., regulation of business).
What is ideological polarization?
The term used to describe giant tech companies acting like “digital lords.”
What is technofeudalism?
The scientist famous for experiments with dogs and conditioned responses.
Who is Ivan Pavlov?
Facebook’s 2017 algorithm tweak emphasized this kind of “interactions.”
What are Meaningful Social Interactions (MSI)?
Stanford’s BJ Fogg designed this model of behavior, often used in persuasive tech.
What is the Fogg Behavior Model?
This type of polarization goes beyond ideas, attacking the moral character of those who disagree.
What is affective polarization?
Edward Tufte once said there are only two industries that call their customers “users”: software and this one.
What are illegal drugs?
When a behavior decreases after an unpleasant stimulus is added.
What is positive punishment?
This type of content—sensational, divisive, or emotionally charged—was boosted after the algorithm change.
What is outrage or misinformation?
Red notification dots and pull-to-refresh are examples of this reward mechanism.
What are variable rewards?
The “perception gap” describes the difference between what groups actually believe and what we ____ they believe.
What is perceive?
According to Annie Margaret, if algorithms won’t show us people doing good, we must do this.
What is look for them ourselves?
The branch of psychology that studies observable behaviors rather than thoughts.
What is behaviorism?
What did Facebook’s Civic Team suggest eliminating as a solution to reduce harmful content?
What is reshare?
This billionaire investor said, “Show me the incentives and I will show you the outcome.”
Who is Charlie Munger?
From 1970 to 1990, people rated the opposing political party at around 40. In recent years, that rating dropped closer to this number.
What is 10?
What is the metaphor behind calling our media consumption a “feed”?
What is the idea that we are being fed information, not choosing it ourselves?
The device B.F. Skinner used to study operant conditioning with animals.
What is a Skinner box?
Internal Facebook teams identified problems with the algorithm, but their solutions were blocked by this business priority.
What is engagement or the bottom line?
What term describes algorithms that analyze user data and nudge people toward predictable actions?
What is algorithmic behavior modification?
What term describes the crisis where distrust of an ideology extends to individuals who hold it?
What is the crisis of social polarization?
Annie Margaret says algorithms won’t ask who you are — instead they do this to create a version of you.
What is study your clicks, map your desires, and exploit your biases?