Friction Engineering
Adding or removing small steps changes behaviour more than argument does; friction on the good path is called sludge, friction on the bad path is a commitment device.
An everyday example
Keeping the trading app two menus deep and the savings transfer one tap away.
What it can cost you
Being steered by whoever controls the steps — easy to buy, hard to cancel — while believing you chose freely.
Warning signs
- The thing I regret is the easiest thing in my environment.
- The thing I want requires setup every time.
One thing to do
Map the steps on both sides of any recurring decision; move the ones you regret behind friction and the ones you want in front of it.
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