blog single image
blog single image
User Onboarding & Engagement

18 User Psychology Concepts for Successful UX Design

blog author
Jinwoo Park

January 21, 2025

Human psychology is complex, but there are patterns to how we process information and behave. And if you can figure it out, you can use it to your product's advantage. That is where user psychology comes in. SaaS products that integrate cognitive psychology into their UX design can significantly enhance onboarding, boost retention, and drive conversions.

Below are 18 key user psychology concepts that can transform how SaaS teams design user experiences. For each one, we'll dive into what the user psychology concept is, why it matters for UX design, and how it can be used to improve your product's user experience. 

1. Cognitive Load

Cognitive load, in cognitive psychology, refers to the mental effort required to process information during human-computer interaction, emphasizing the limits of short-term memory and mental models.

How to apply it to UX design

Reducing cognitive load involves simplifying the user's journey, making information digestible, and creating a clear path for actions. The user experience design must prioritize clarity and eliminate unnecessary complexity.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Simplify navigation by grouping related features together.

  • Use progressive onboarding to introduce features step-by-step.

  • Provide contextual help or tooltips to guide users.

2. Decision Fatigue

Decision fatigue highlights how making too many decisions depletes cognitive resources, affecting behavior, usability, and human emotions in interaction design.

How to apply it to UX design

To combat decision fatigue, UX designers should present users with straightforward choices and guide them through essential actions. UX design decisions should focus on streamlining user paths.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Offer pre-configured settings or templates for new users.

  • Limit the number of choices presented at any given time.

  • Set intelligent defaults to streamline user decisions.

3. Social Proof

Social proof explains how people behave by relying on others' actions, influenced by psychological principles and emotional cues in human-computer interaction.

How to apply it to UX design

Applying social proof involves highlighting user success stories and creating visible endorsements to build credibility and trust in the product. UX designers can integrate these elements to enhance user experience.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Display testimonials from satisfied customers prominently.

  • Highlight recognizable brands or high-profile users.

  • Show real-time usage stats (e.g., “5,000 users signed up this month”).

4. Loss Aversion

Loss aversion describes the tendency to prioritize avoiding losses over seeking equivalent gains, driven by emotional and cognitive biases in behavior.

How to apply it to UX design

Leveraging loss aversion involves framing messages to emphasize what users could lose if they delay or avoid taking action. Centered design can make these messages more impactful.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Highlight features that will be lost if users don’t upgrade.

  • Use limited-time offers to create urgency.

  • Emphasize trial expiration dates in communications.

5. Personalization

Personalization leverages cognitive psychology to align experiences with individual behaviors and mental models, enhancing emotions, usability, and human interaction.

How to apply it to UX design

Cognitive psychology supports the idea that tailored user experiences enhance user retention. Effective personalization relies on understanding user behaviors and delivering user experiences that align with their unique needs and goals.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Use behavioral data to segment users and customize onboarding flows.

  • Provide tailored feature recommendations based on user actions.

  • Enable users to customize dashboards and settings.

6. Emotional Design

Emotional design examines how visual and interactive elements evoke positive emotions, fostering stronger cognitive and psychological connections in human-computer interaction.

How to apply it to UX design

Emotional design involves crafting interactions that make users feel understood, valued, and delighted by their experience, leading to positive emotions during the user experience. 

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Celebrate milestones (e.g., “You’ve completed setup!”).

  • Use approachable, humanized language in UI elements.

  • Incorporate playful animations or micro-interactions.

7. Habit Formation

Habit formation involves establishing routines by linking triggers and rewards, rooted in cognitive processes, human behavior, and emotional reinforcement.

How to apply it to UX design

Encouraging habit formation involves designing triggers and rewards that make returning to the product feel natural and rewarding. UX designers should integrate habit-building features seamlessly into the product. 

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Introduce streaks or badges for consistent usage.

  • Send reminders for incomplete tasks or upcoming actions.

  • Use rewards to incentivize routine interactions.

8. Anchoring Bias

Anchoring bias reveals how initial information disproportionately influences subsequent judgments, reflecting cognitive biases and shaping mental models.

How to apply it to UX design

Applying anchoring bias requires strategically presenting key information early to shape user perception. UX designers can use this bias to guide users toward optimal choices.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Highlight flagship features prominently during onboarding.

  • Showcase premium pricing tiers as a reference point.

  • Use contrast to make mid-tier plans seem more appealing.

9. Reciprocity Principle

The reciprocity principle highlights how giving value triggers a psychological and emotional inclination to reciprocate, influencing human behavior in interaction design.

How to apply it to UX design

Reciprocity can be fostered by offering value upfront, making users feel inclined to engage and invest further.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Offer free resources like guides, templates, or tools.

  • Provide exclusive discounts for early sign-ups.

  • Deliver free onboarding consultations or demos.

10. Zeigarnik Effect

The Zeigarnik Effect shows that incomplete tasks are better remembered due to cognitive tension and heightened mental focus in human-computer interaction.

How to apply it to UX design

Leveraging the Zeigarnik Effect involves visual and interactive elements that emphasize unfinished actions. UX designers can integrate these tools to improve user retention.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Incorporate progress bars during onboarding.

  • Use checklists to highlight remaining tasks.

  • Send reminders about incomplete actions.

11. Framing Effect

The framing effect demonstrates how presenting information differently shapes emotions, behavior, and mental models, revealing cognitive biases in interaction design.

How to apply it to UX design

UX designers can leverage the framing effect by presenting choices in a way that aligns with user motivations and desired outcomes. UX design can help craft compelling presentations of information.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Present pricing plans with a focus on cost savings or added value.

  • Frame product benefits as solutions to user pain points (e.g., “Spend less time on X”).

  • Use visual cues to emphasize the most attractive option in pricing tables.

12. Peak-End Rule

The peak-end rule suggests experiences are remembered based on their most intense moments and endings, highlighting psychological principles and emotional salience.

How to apply it to UX design

Applying the peak-end rule involves crafting impactful moments during critical interactions and ending on a high note. Centered design principles can guide these efforts.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Create a visually appealing, celebratory moment when users complete key tasks.

  • End onboarding with a clear, value-driven call-to-action.

  • Provide users with a free resource or reward at the end of their trial period.

13. Temporal Discounting

Temporal discounting explains why users tend to prefer immediate rewards over delayed benefits. This concept is rooted in behavioral economics and decision-making psychology, as demonstrated by studies on impulsivity and gratification.

How to apply it to UX design

Temporal discounting can be addressed by emphasizing short-term benefits and trigger positive emotions while maintaining a connection to long-term goals. Effective UX design should highlight instant value without overshadowing future gains.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Emphasize immediate benefits during onboarding (e.g., “Set up in under 5 minutes”).

  • Highlight features that provide instant feedback or results.

  • Offer users a quick start guide for immediate success.

14. Gestalt Principles

Gestalt principles describe how people perceive patterns and organize visual information. These principles, developed by German psychologists in the early 20th century, explain how users naturally group elements to create a cohesive understanding of design.

How to apply it to UX design

UX designers can implement Gestalt principles by organizing visual and interactive elements to reflect natural patterns of perception. Designers can leverage these principles to create clarity and focus.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Group related features within dashboards using proximity and similarity.

  • Use consistent alignment and spacing to create visual harmony.

  • Highlight key actions with contrast and visual hierarchy.

15. Feedback Loops

Feedback loops provide immediate responses to user actions, reinforcing engagement and encouraging further interaction. This concept originates from cybernetics and behavioral psychology, where feedback is seen as a critical factor in learning and behavior adjustment.

How to apply it to UX design

UX designers can incorporate feedback loops effectively with timely and meaningful responses to user actions, reinforcing positive behaviors. Human-computer interaction research supports the value of responsive design in maintaining engagement.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Show real-time feedback for actions like form submissions or task completions.

  • Use progress indicators to keep users informed about their status.

  • Provide visual or auditory confirmations for completed tasks (e.g., checkmarks or sound effects).

16. Hick's Law

Hick's Law is a cognitive psychology principle that states that the time it takes to make a decision increases with the number of choices available. 

How to apply it to UX design

To apply Hick's Law, design interfaces that simplify choices and prioritize clarity for users. UX designers should focus on presenting only the most relevant options.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Group related options into logical categories.

  • Use drop-down menus or filters to reduce visible choices.

  • Highlight recommended actions or features.

17. Fitts's Law

Fitts's Law describes how the time required to move to a target is influenced by the size of the target and its distance. 

How to apply it to UX design

Applying Fitts's Law involves designing elements that are easy to click or tap, improving usability and efficiency.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Make primary buttons large and easily accessible.

  • Place commonly used actions within close reach.

  • Use consistent spacing and alignment for interactive elements.

18. Jakob's Law

Jakob's Law asserts that users spend most of their time on other websites, so they prefer your site to work the same way as all the other sites they already know. In short, familiarity improves usability. 

How to apply it to UX design

UX designers can leverage this cognitive psychology principle by using patterns that users recognize and expect. Apply human-centered design principles that prioritize evoking positive emotions like comfort and familiarity.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Use standard navigation structures and layouts.

  • Align terminology with industry norms.

  • Conduct usability testing to ensure designs meet user expectations.

Boost Your UX Design with User Psychology

Understanding and applying user psychology concepts is crucial for UX designers. By taking advantage of psychological principles and what they reveal about human behavior, you can create intuitive and engaging user experiences that boost conversions and retention.

Now, leveraging user psychology is all about testing those concepts out. That's where Userflow can really come in handy. Your UX designers will have everything they need to quickly create patterns that address each and every one of the above human psychology concepts.

2 min 33 sec. read

blog single image
User Onboarding & Engagement

18 User Psychology Concepts for Successful UX Design

blog author
Jinwoo Park

January 21, 2025

Human psychology is complex, but there are patterns to how we process information and behave. And if you can figure it out, you can use it to your product's advantage. That is where user psychology comes in. SaaS products that integrate cognitive psychology into their UX design can significantly enhance onboarding, boost retention, and drive conversions.

Below are 18 key user psychology concepts that can transform how SaaS teams design user experiences. For each one, we'll dive into what the user psychology concept is, why it matters for UX design, and how it can be used to improve your product's user experience. 

1. Cognitive Load

Cognitive load, in cognitive psychology, refers to the mental effort required to process information during human-computer interaction, emphasizing the limits of short-term memory and mental models.

How to apply it to UX design

Reducing cognitive load involves simplifying the user's journey, making information digestible, and creating a clear path for actions. The user experience design must prioritize clarity and eliminate unnecessary complexity.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Simplify navigation by grouping related features together.

  • Use progressive onboarding to introduce features step-by-step.

  • Provide contextual help or tooltips to guide users.

2. Decision Fatigue

Decision fatigue highlights how making too many decisions depletes cognitive resources, affecting behavior, usability, and human emotions in interaction design.

How to apply it to UX design

To combat decision fatigue, UX designers should present users with straightforward choices and guide them through essential actions. UX design decisions should focus on streamlining user paths.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Offer pre-configured settings or templates for new users.

  • Limit the number of choices presented at any given time.

  • Set intelligent defaults to streamline user decisions.

3. Social Proof

Social proof explains how people behave by relying on others' actions, influenced by psychological principles and emotional cues in human-computer interaction.

How to apply it to UX design

Applying social proof involves highlighting user success stories and creating visible endorsements to build credibility and trust in the product. UX designers can integrate these elements to enhance user experience.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Display testimonials from satisfied customers prominently.

  • Highlight recognizable brands or high-profile users.

  • Show real-time usage stats (e.g., “5,000 users signed up this month”).

4. Loss Aversion

Loss aversion describes the tendency to prioritize avoiding losses over seeking equivalent gains, driven by emotional and cognitive biases in behavior.

How to apply it to UX design

Leveraging loss aversion involves framing messages to emphasize what users could lose if they delay or avoid taking action. Centered design can make these messages more impactful.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Highlight features that will be lost if users don’t upgrade.

  • Use limited-time offers to create urgency.

  • Emphasize trial expiration dates in communications.

5. Personalization

Personalization leverages cognitive psychology to align experiences with individual behaviors and mental models, enhancing emotions, usability, and human interaction.

How to apply it to UX design

Cognitive psychology supports the idea that tailored user experiences enhance user retention. Effective personalization relies on understanding user behaviors and delivering user experiences that align with their unique needs and goals.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Use behavioral data to segment users and customize onboarding flows.

  • Provide tailored feature recommendations based on user actions.

  • Enable users to customize dashboards and settings.

6. Emotional Design

Emotional design examines how visual and interactive elements evoke positive emotions, fostering stronger cognitive and psychological connections in human-computer interaction.

How to apply it to UX design

Emotional design involves crafting interactions that make users feel understood, valued, and delighted by their experience, leading to positive emotions during the user experience. 

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Celebrate milestones (e.g., “You’ve completed setup!”).

  • Use approachable, humanized language in UI elements.

  • Incorporate playful animations or micro-interactions.

7. Habit Formation

Habit formation involves establishing routines by linking triggers and rewards, rooted in cognitive processes, human behavior, and emotional reinforcement.

How to apply it to UX design

Encouraging habit formation involves designing triggers and rewards that make returning to the product feel natural and rewarding. UX designers should integrate habit-building features seamlessly into the product. 

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Introduce streaks or badges for consistent usage.

  • Send reminders for incomplete tasks or upcoming actions.

  • Use rewards to incentivize routine interactions.

8. Anchoring Bias

Anchoring bias reveals how initial information disproportionately influences subsequent judgments, reflecting cognitive biases and shaping mental models.

How to apply it to UX design

Applying anchoring bias requires strategically presenting key information early to shape user perception. UX designers can use this bias to guide users toward optimal choices.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Highlight flagship features prominently during onboarding.

  • Showcase premium pricing tiers as a reference point.

  • Use contrast to make mid-tier plans seem more appealing.

9. Reciprocity Principle

The reciprocity principle highlights how giving value triggers a psychological and emotional inclination to reciprocate, influencing human behavior in interaction design.

How to apply it to UX design

Reciprocity can be fostered by offering value upfront, making users feel inclined to engage and invest further.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Offer free resources like guides, templates, or tools.

  • Provide exclusive discounts for early sign-ups.

  • Deliver free onboarding consultations or demos.

10. Zeigarnik Effect

The Zeigarnik Effect shows that incomplete tasks are better remembered due to cognitive tension and heightened mental focus in human-computer interaction.

How to apply it to UX design

Leveraging the Zeigarnik Effect involves visual and interactive elements that emphasize unfinished actions. UX designers can integrate these tools to improve user retention.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Incorporate progress bars during onboarding.

  • Use checklists to highlight remaining tasks.

  • Send reminders about incomplete actions.

11. Framing Effect

The framing effect demonstrates how presenting information differently shapes emotions, behavior, and mental models, revealing cognitive biases in interaction design.

How to apply it to UX design

UX designers can leverage the framing effect by presenting choices in a way that aligns with user motivations and desired outcomes. UX design can help craft compelling presentations of information.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Present pricing plans with a focus on cost savings or added value.

  • Frame product benefits as solutions to user pain points (e.g., “Spend less time on X”).

  • Use visual cues to emphasize the most attractive option in pricing tables.

12. Peak-End Rule

The peak-end rule suggests experiences are remembered based on their most intense moments and endings, highlighting psychological principles and emotional salience.

How to apply it to UX design

Applying the peak-end rule involves crafting impactful moments during critical interactions and ending on a high note. Centered design principles can guide these efforts.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Create a visually appealing, celebratory moment when users complete key tasks.

  • End onboarding with a clear, value-driven call-to-action.

  • Provide users with a free resource or reward at the end of their trial period.

13. Temporal Discounting

Temporal discounting explains why users tend to prefer immediate rewards over delayed benefits. This concept is rooted in behavioral economics and decision-making psychology, as demonstrated by studies on impulsivity and gratification.

How to apply it to UX design

Temporal discounting can be addressed by emphasizing short-term benefits and trigger positive emotions while maintaining a connection to long-term goals. Effective UX design should highlight instant value without overshadowing future gains.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Emphasize immediate benefits during onboarding (e.g., “Set up in under 5 minutes”).

  • Highlight features that provide instant feedback or results.

  • Offer users a quick start guide for immediate success.

14. Gestalt Principles

Gestalt principles describe how people perceive patterns and organize visual information. These principles, developed by German psychologists in the early 20th century, explain how users naturally group elements to create a cohesive understanding of design.

How to apply it to UX design

UX designers can implement Gestalt principles by organizing visual and interactive elements to reflect natural patterns of perception. Designers can leverage these principles to create clarity and focus.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Group related features within dashboards using proximity and similarity.

  • Use consistent alignment and spacing to create visual harmony.

  • Highlight key actions with contrast and visual hierarchy.

15. Feedback Loops

Feedback loops provide immediate responses to user actions, reinforcing engagement and encouraging further interaction. This concept originates from cybernetics and behavioral psychology, where feedback is seen as a critical factor in learning and behavior adjustment.

How to apply it to UX design

UX designers can incorporate feedback loops effectively with timely and meaningful responses to user actions, reinforcing positive behaviors. Human-computer interaction research supports the value of responsive design in maintaining engagement.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Show real-time feedback for actions like form submissions or task completions.

  • Use progress indicators to keep users informed about their status.

  • Provide visual or auditory confirmations for completed tasks (e.g., checkmarks or sound effects).

16. Hick's Law

Hick's Law is a cognitive psychology principle that states that the time it takes to make a decision increases with the number of choices available. 

How to apply it to UX design

To apply Hick's Law, design interfaces that simplify choices and prioritize clarity for users. UX designers should focus on presenting only the most relevant options.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Group related options into logical categories.

  • Use drop-down menus or filters to reduce visible choices.

  • Highlight recommended actions or features.

17. Fitts's Law

Fitts's Law describes how the time required to move to a target is influenced by the size of the target and its distance. 

How to apply it to UX design

Applying Fitts's Law involves designing elements that are easy to click or tap, improving usability and efficiency.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Make primary buttons large and easily accessible.

  • Place commonly used actions within close reach.

  • Use consistent spacing and alignment for interactive elements.

18. Jakob's Law

Jakob's Law asserts that users spend most of their time on other websites, so they prefer your site to work the same way as all the other sites they already know. In short, familiarity improves usability. 

How to apply it to UX design

UX designers can leverage this cognitive psychology principle by using patterns that users recognize and expect. Apply human-centered design principles that prioritize evoking positive emotions like comfort and familiarity.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Use standard navigation structures and layouts.

  • Align terminology with industry norms.

  • Conduct usability testing to ensure designs meet user expectations.

Boost Your UX Design with User Psychology

Understanding and applying user psychology concepts is crucial for UX designers. By taking advantage of psychological principles and what they reveal about human behavior, you can create intuitive and engaging user experiences that boost conversions and retention.

Now, leveraging user psychology is all about testing those concepts out. That's where Userflow can really come in handy. Your UX designers will have everything they need to quickly create patterns that address each and every one of the above human psychology concepts.

2 min 33 sec. read

Human psychology is complex, but there are patterns to how we process information and behave. And if you can figure it out, you can use it to your product's advantage. That is where user psychology comes in. SaaS products that integrate cognitive psychology into their UX design can significantly enhance onboarding, boost retention, and drive conversions.

Below are 18 key user psychology concepts that can transform how SaaS teams design user experiences. For each one, we'll dive into what the user psychology concept is, why it matters for UX design, and how it can be used to improve your product's user experience. 

1. Cognitive Load

Cognitive load, in cognitive psychology, refers to the mental effort required to process information during human-computer interaction, emphasizing the limits of short-term memory and mental models.

How to apply it to UX design

Reducing cognitive load involves simplifying the user's journey, making information digestible, and creating a clear path for actions. The user experience design must prioritize clarity and eliminate unnecessary complexity.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Simplify navigation by grouping related features together.

  • Use progressive onboarding to introduce features step-by-step.

  • Provide contextual help or tooltips to guide users.

2. Decision Fatigue

Decision fatigue highlights how making too many decisions depletes cognitive resources, affecting behavior, usability, and human emotions in interaction design.

How to apply it to UX design

To combat decision fatigue, UX designers should present users with straightforward choices and guide them through essential actions. UX design decisions should focus on streamlining user paths.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Offer pre-configured settings or templates for new users.

  • Limit the number of choices presented at any given time.

  • Set intelligent defaults to streamline user decisions.

3. Social Proof

Social proof explains how people behave by relying on others' actions, influenced by psychological principles and emotional cues in human-computer interaction.

How to apply it to UX design

Applying social proof involves highlighting user success stories and creating visible endorsements to build credibility and trust in the product. UX designers can integrate these elements to enhance user experience.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Display testimonials from satisfied customers prominently.

  • Highlight recognizable brands or high-profile users.

  • Show real-time usage stats (e.g., “5,000 users signed up this month”).

4. Loss Aversion

Loss aversion describes the tendency to prioritize avoiding losses over seeking equivalent gains, driven by emotional and cognitive biases in behavior.

How to apply it to UX design

Leveraging loss aversion involves framing messages to emphasize what users could lose if they delay or avoid taking action. Centered design can make these messages more impactful.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Highlight features that will be lost if users don’t upgrade.

  • Use limited-time offers to create urgency.

  • Emphasize trial expiration dates in communications.

5. Personalization

Personalization leverages cognitive psychology to align experiences with individual behaviors and mental models, enhancing emotions, usability, and human interaction.

How to apply it to UX design

Cognitive psychology supports the idea that tailored user experiences enhance user retention. Effective personalization relies on understanding user behaviors and delivering user experiences that align with their unique needs and goals.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Use behavioral data to segment users and customize onboarding flows.

  • Provide tailored feature recommendations based on user actions.

  • Enable users to customize dashboards and settings.

6. Emotional Design

Emotional design examines how visual and interactive elements evoke positive emotions, fostering stronger cognitive and psychological connections in human-computer interaction.

How to apply it to UX design

Emotional design involves crafting interactions that make users feel understood, valued, and delighted by their experience, leading to positive emotions during the user experience. 

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Celebrate milestones (e.g., “You’ve completed setup!”).

  • Use approachable, humanized language in UI elements.

  • Incorporate playful animations or micro-interactions.

7. Habit Formation

Habit formation involves establishing routines by linking triggers and rewards, rooted in cognitive processes, human behavior, and emotional reinforcement.

How to apply it to UX design

Encouraging habit formation involves designing triggers and rewards that make returning to the product feel natural and rewarding. UX designers should integrate habit-building features seamlessly into the product. 

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Introduce streaks or badges for consistent usage.

  • Send reminders for incomplete tasks or upcoming actions.

  • Use rewards to incentivize routine interactions.

8. Anchoring Bias

Anchoring bias reveals how initial information disproportionately influences subsequent judgments, reflecting cognitive biases and shaping mental models.

How to apply it to UX design

Applying anchoring bias requires strategically presenting key information early to shape user perception. UX designers can use this bias to guide users toward optimal choices.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Highlight flagship features prominently during onboarding.

  • Showcase premium pricing tiers as a reference point.

  • Use contrast to make mid-tier plans seem more appealing.

9. Reciprocity Principle

The reciprocity principle highlights how giving value triggers a psychological and emotional inclination to reciprocate, influencing human behavior in interaction design.

How to apply it to UX design

Reciprocity can be fostered by offering value upfront, making users feel inclined to engage and invest further.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Offer free resources like guides, templates, or tools.

  • Provide exclusive discounts for early sign-ups.

  • Deliver free onboarding consultations or demos.

10. Zeigarnik Effect

The Zeigarnik Effect shows that incomplete tasks are better remembered due to cognitive tension and heightened mental focus in human-computer interaction.

How to apply it to UX design

Leveraging the Zeigarnik Effect involves visual and interactive elements that emphasize unfinished actions. UX designers can integrate these tools to improve user retention.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Incorporate progress bars during onboarding.

  • Use checklists to highlight remaining tasks.

  • Send reminders about incomplete actions.

11. Framing Effect

The framing effect demonstrates how presenting information differently shapes emotions, behavior, and mental models, revealing cognitive biases in interaction design.

How to apply it to UX design

UX designers can leverage the framing effect by presenting choices in a way that aligns with user motivations and desired outcomes. UX design can help craft compelling presentations of information.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Present pricing plans with a focus on cost savings or added value.

  • Frame product benefits as solutions to user pain points (e.g., “Spend less time on X”).

  • Use visual cues to emphasize the most attractive option in pricing tables.

12. Peak-End Rule

The peak-end rule suggests experiences are remembered based on their most intense moments and endings, highlighting psychological principles and emotional salience.

How to apply it to UX design

Applying the peak-end rule involves crafting impactful moments during critical interactions and ending on a high note. Centered design principles can guide these efforts.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Create a visually appealing, celebratory moment when users complete key tasks.

  • End onboarding with a clear, value-driven call-to-action.

  • Provide users with a free resource or reward at the end of their trial period.

13. Temporal Discounting

Temporal discounting explains why users tend to prefer immediate rewards over delayed benefits. This concept is rooted in behavioral economics and decision-making psychology, as demonstrated by studies on impulsivity and gratification.

How to apply it to UX design

Temporal discounting can be addressed by emphasizing short-term benefits and trigger positive emotions while maintaining a connection to long-term goals. Effective UX design should highlight instant value without overshadowing future gains.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Emphasize immediate benefits during onboarding (e.g., “Set up in under 5 minutes”).

  • Highlight features that provide instant feedback or results.

  • Offer users a quick start guide for immediate success.

14. Gestalt Principles

Gestalt principles describe how people perceive patterns and organize visual information. These principles, developed by German psychologists in the early 20th century, explain how users naturally group elements to create a cohesive understanding of design.

How to apply it to UX design

UX designers can implement Gestalt principles by organizing visual and interactive elements to reflect natural patterns of perception. Designers can leverage these principles to create clarity and focus.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Group related features within dashboards using proximity and similarity.

  • Use consistent alignment and spacing to create visual harmony.

  • Highlight key actions with contrast and visual hierarchy.

15. Feedback Loops

Feedback loops provide immediate responses to user actions, reinforcing engagement and encouraging further interaction. This concept originates from cybernetics and behavioral psychology, where feedback is seen as a critical factor in learning and behavior adjustment.

How to apply it to UX design

UX designers can incorporate feedback loops effectively with timely and meaningful responses to user actions, reinforcing positive behaviors. Human-computer interaction research supports the value of responsive design in maintaining engagement.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Show real-time feedback for actions like form submissions or task completions.

  • Use progress indicators to keep users informed about their status.

  • Provide visual or auditory confirmations for completed tasks (e.g., checkmarks or sound effects).

16. Hick's Law

Hick's Law is a cognitive psychology principle that states that the time it takes to make a decision increases with the number of choices available. 

How to apply it to UX design

To apply Hick's Law, design interfaces that simplify choices and prioritize clarity for users. UX designers should focus on presenting only the most relevant options.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Group related options into logical categories.

  • Use drop-down menus or filters to reduce visible choices.

  • Highlight recommended actions or features.

17. Fitts's Law

Fitts's Law describes how the time required to move to a target is influenced by the size of the target and its distance. 

How to apply it to UX design

Applying Fitts's Law involves designing elements that are easy to click or tap, improving usability and efficiency.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Make primary buttons large and easily accessible.

  • Place commonly used actions within close reach.

  • Use consistent spacing and alignment for interactive elements.

18. Jakob's Law

Jakob's Law asserts that users spend most of their time on other websites, so they prefer your site to work the same way as all the other sites they already know. In short, familiarity improves usability. 

How to apply it to UX design

UX designers can leverage this cognitive psychology principle by using patterns that users recognize and expect. Apply human-centered design principles that prioritize evoking positive emotions like comfort and familiarity.

User Experience Design Examples: 

  • Use standard navigation structures and layouts.

  • Align terminology with industry norms.

  • Conduct usability testing to ensure designs meet user expectations.

Boost Your UX Design with User Psychology

Understanding and applying user psychology concepts is crucial for UX designers. By taking advantage of psychological principles and what they reveal about human behavior, you can create intuitive and engaging user experiences that boost conversions and retention.

Now, leveraging user psychology is all about testing those concepts out. That's where Userflow can really come in handy. Your UX designers will have everything they need to quickly create patterns that address each and every one of the above human psychology concepts.

About the author

blog author
Jinwoo Park

Userflow

Content Marketing Manager at Userflow

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