Psychology & Behavioral Science Series
Welcome to my collection on psychology and behavioral science! This series explores how our minds work, why we make the decisions we do, and how we can apply psychological insights to improve our lives and work.
Why Understanding Psychology Matters
Whether you’re a developer, entrepreneur, or just someone interested in self-improvement, understanding psychology helps you:
- Make better decisions
- Overcome common mental traps
- Build better products that align with human behavior
- Improve productivity and motivation
- Understand yourself and others better
🧠 Cognitive Biases
Understanding how our minds can trick us
The Dunning-Kruger Effect
Why incompetence breeds confidence
- ✅ Understanding overconfidence
- ✅ Recognizing skill gaps
- ✅ Cultivating intellectual humility
- 📅 April 22, 2024
Confirmation Bias in Social Media
How echo chambers shape our reality
- ✅ Algorithm-driven thinking
- ✅ Information bubbles
- ✅ Critical thinking strategies
- 📅 April 25, 2024
The Halo Effect
When one trait colors everything else
- ✅ First impressions matter
- ✅ Beauty bias in judgments
- ✅ Brand perception
- 📅 May 8, 2024
Authority Bias
Why we blindly follow experts
- ✅ Trust in credentials
- ✅ Critical evaluation skills
- ✅ Balancing respect and skepticism
- 📅 April 28, 2024
🎯 Decision Making & Economics
How we make choices and value things
Loss Aversion
Why losses hurt more than gains feel good
- ✅ Risk perception
- ✅ Endowment effect
- ✅ Decision framing
- 📅 May 15, 2024
The Paradox of Choice
When more options make us miserable
- ✅ Decision fatigue
- ✅ Analysis paralysis
- ✅ Simplification strategies
- 📅 May 22, 2024
The Sunk Cost Fallacy
Why we throw good money after bad
- ✅ Irrational persistence
- ✅ Cutting losses
- ✅ Forward-thinking decisions
- 📅 June 5, 2024
The IKEA Effect
Why we overvalue what we create
- ✅ Labor leads to love
- ✅ Customization psychology
- ✅ Product design implications
- 📅 May 12, 2024
💪 Motivation & Productivity
What drives us and how to harness it
The Psychology of Procrastination
It’s not laziness—it’s emotion regulation
- ✅ Understanding delay
- ✅ Emotion management
- ✅ Practical strategies
- 📅 April 8, 2024
Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation
What really drives sustained performance
- ✅ Internal vs external rewards
- ✅ Long-term engagement
- ✅ Motivation design
- 📅 May 18, 2024
Flow State
Achieving peak performance and enjoyment
- ✅ Optimal challenge balance
- ✅ Deep focus techniques
- ✅ Productivity amplification
- 📅 May 5, 2024
The Zeigarnik Effect
Why unfinished tasks haunt us
- ✅ Task completion psychology
- ✅ Memory and attention
- ✅ Productivity hacks
- 📅 June 10, 2024
Habit Formation
Building behaviors that stick
- ✅ Habit loops
- ✅ Cue-routine-reward
- ✅ Sustainable change
- 📅 May 2, 2024
Variable Rewards
The psychology behind addiction and engagement
- ✅ Unpredictable reinforcement
- ✅ Dopamine and motivation
- ✅ Product stickiness
- 📅 June 8, 2024
The Hedonic Treadmill
Why we return to baseline happiness
- ✅ Adaptation to circumstances
- ✅ Sustainable happiness
- ✅ Gratitude practices
- 📅 May 10, 2024
Ego Depletion
Why willpower is a limited resource
- ✅ Self-control fatigue
- ✅ Decision energy
- ✅ Restoration strategies
- 📅 April 30, 2024
👥 Social Psychology
How we influence and are influenced by others
The Bystander Effect
Why groups don’t act in emergencies
- ✅ Diffusion of responsibility
- ✅ Pluralistic ignorance
- ✅ Breaking the spell
- 📅 April 30, 2024
Social Proof
Why we look to others for guidance
- ✅ Herd behavior
- ✅ Testimonials and reviews
- ✅ Influence tactics
- 📅 June 1, 2024
Groupthink
When consensus becomes dangerous
- ✅ Group decision failures
- ✅ Conformity pressure
- ✅ Devil’s advocate role
- 📅 May 5, 2024
Social Comparison Theory
Why we measure ourselves against others
- ✅ Upward vs downward comparison
- ✅ Self-esteem impacts
- ✅ Social media effects
- 📅 May 25, 2024
🚀 Getting Started
Each article includes:
- Real-world examples from everyday life and tech
- Research-backed explanations of psychological phenomena
- Practical applications you can use immediately
- Personal insights from building products and startups
- Actionable strategies to apply the knowledge
📚 Recommended Reading Order
For Understanding Yourself:
- Start with The Psychology of Procrastination - We all struggle with this
- Learn about Flow State - Achieve peak performance
- Understand Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation - What drives you?
For Better Decision Making:
- The Dunning-Kruger Effect - Know what you don’t know
- Loss Aversion - Understand your risk perception
- The Sunk Cost Fallacy - Cut your losses wisely
For Product Builders & Entrepreneurs:
- Variable Rewards - Design engaging products
- Social Proof - Leverage social influence
- The IKEA Effect - Create user investment
- Confirmation Bias - Design for truth
For Social Awareness:
- The Bystander Effect - Be the one who acts
- Groupthink - Make better group decisions
- Authority Bias - Think critically about expertise
💡 Why I Write About Psychology
As a founder who’s built EdTech products and AI tools, I’ve learned that understanding human psychology is just as important as understanding technology. The best products aren’t just technically excellent—they align with how people actually think, decide, and behave.
These articles combine:
- Academic research from behavioral psychology and economics
- Practical experience from building products used by millions
- Real examples from tech, startups, and everyday life
- Actionable insights you can apply today
🤝 Feedback & Discussion
Have thoughts on these topics? Want to suggest a psychological phenomenon to explore?
📧 Email: [email protected] 🐙 GitHub: @colossus21 💼 LinkedIn: Rafiul Alam
This series complements my technical content on Go Design Patterns and Go Concurrency Patterns, exploring the human side of technology and decision-making.