Anti-Patterns

Use these pages to understand why certain popular tactics fail to create durable behavior change, when they backfire, and which strategy-first patterns to use instead.

In this section

• Defaults Are Not Behavior ChangeDefaults set configuration, not ongoing behavior. Why default effects create one-time adherence and where they still belong in Behavioral Strategy.
• Variable Rewards Are OverratedUncertainty can amplify engagement, but only when the task already has meaning and fit
• Foot-in-the-Door Anti-PatternSmall asks can inflate shallow compliance and damage trust for consequential decisions