Questions, Insights, Connections

Leave your question, insight, and/or connection for each class here. I don't expect this to be more than 250 words. Make sure it's unique to you. For example:

Here is my unique question (or insight or connection).... And it is signed. -Reagle (talk) 12:49, 28 June 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Be careful of overwriting others' edit or losing your own: always copy your text before saving in case you have to submit it again.

Jan 16 Tue - Persuasion

1. “Give [people] superpowers” (p.20). This is one of B.J. Fogg’s, the founding father of behavior design, main principles. The central idea of this principle is that emotion plays a major role in human behavior, and if the emotions associated with an action are positive then one is more likely to repeat said behavior “repeatedly– and unthinkingly” (p.19). This concept is especially prevalent today in a world of social media where users are seemingly supplied with the basic human need for validation and connection just by swiping right or hitting a like button– which is also what makes these apps so successful. Tristan Harris, a former student of Fogg, questions the ethics behind behavior design and technology– claiming that “there is a fundamental conflict between what people need and what companies need” (p.49). Those creating apps such as social media are concerned with engagement and profits, while those using the apps are looking to connect with the world around them. Using behavior design principles it is easy for these companies to manipulate human behavior in their favor.

As much as we as individuals all like to think that we are in control of our behaviors, how much of our lives are truly being dictated by outside forces? This is the main question that arose for me when reading through this piece. It also made me question, if there is anything we can really do to prevent such behavioral manipulation, or if it is just inevitable? Despite Robert Cialdini’s notion that understanding persuasion techniques can help us “truly analyze requests and offerings” (p.81), does it really matter if our behaviors remain unchanged? -Fairbanks-Lee 15 1:58 January 2024

E23895, excellent QIC. Don't forget to log in when writing on Wikipedia, and sign your messages with tildas. -Reagle (talk) 20:20, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Technology puts “hot triggers” at peoples’ fingertips (Leslie, 2016). It is easier to act on these triggers than to ignore them. The opportunity for a frictionless response heightens the motivation to entertain the triggers, and is the crux of addictive technology, according to author Ian Leslie. Technology makes it too easy not to think: “When you’re feeling uncertain, before you ask why you’re uncertain, you Google” (Leslie, 2016). Nothing tells users to go on certain apps, but their emotions dictate which app they seek out, and each app triggers new emotions, guiding the user to stay on the device. Technology uses the “six basic tendencies of human behavior, reciprocation, consistency, social validation, liking, authority and scarcity” to keep users committed to their device (Cialdini, 2001, p.76).

Robert Cialdini argues that understanding these basic human tendencies allows us to recognize the persuasion techniques being used and to make educated decisions (Cialdini, 2001, p.81). However, I disagree that identifying this manipulation is enough for us to stop falling for it. These are innate psychological human principles and acknowledgement of these tendencies will not stop us from feeding into them… especially when it can be so fun! The concept of variable rewards keeps us constantly checking our phones because we don’t know what awaits us: is it a text from Mom, a like on instagram, a job offer? Even when we recognize this manipulation, we still let it happen because we rely too much on technology to sacrifice it entirely.

Although captology can influence us to create healthy habits, it can also exploit our innate human behaviors. Maybe humans find comfort in being influenced. It's less thinking. It’s less work. It's easy. Lvogel1 (talk) 00:07, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with your last statement. I think we find comfort and ease in following along and conforming to what the majority does. We are cognitive misers - we seek for quick solutions and use mental shortcuts in making judgments. In short, we can be lazy thinkers! Jinnyjin123 (talk) 03:38, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

,:Lvogel1, excellent QIC. -Reagle (talk) 17:57, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

1. There are six components that can govern our decisions, as discussed in Robert Cialdini’s article. Of the six tendencies, social validation seems to be the most pervasive component that exists in our daily, digital lives. Although written before the rise of social media, the concept helps explain many of our behaviors online. The article by Ian Leslie explores the evolution of behaviorism into modern "behavior design", examining the ethical implications of shaping user behavior through digital interfaces. “Variable rewards”, a concept devised by Skinner, play a crucial role in behavior design, as seen on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Tinder. Receiving likes, comments and followers on social media plays into our human need for social connection and validation. Continuing to open and check such apps for social interaction and affirmation is a common behavior, also contributing to the success of social media platforms.

In a digital age where many, especially the younger generation, are chronically online, many concerns have been raised about its impact on social skills, attention span, and mental health. A question that arose for me as I read these articles is how should designers balance inventing products that “enhance” lives with the risk of inadvertently fostering unhealthy habits? Addiction to technology and social media is another concern that is consistently raised, especially when it comes to teenagers. Although there are benefits to the advances in technology, too much of anything is bad. One other question that I have left with is where should the line be drawn in using user data in customizing one’s social media feed? As the nature of these articles lie in persuasion, it made me recall all the times that I had googled something, or discussed a product with a friend, and then seeing an advertisement for the same very product on my social media feed. Alexistang (talk) 01:19, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Alexistang, excellent QIC, but longer than necessary (~250 words). You don't need extensive summary; you need enough detail/content to make your unique question, insight, or connection. -Reagle (talk) 17:57, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

1. “Knowledge is power” (p.80) is the key idea expressed in Robert Cialdini’s The Science of Persuasion, as he takes through the basic tendencies of human behavior to cater towards the techniques of persuasion. The understanding of the principals of reciprocation, consistency, social validation, liking, authority, and scarcity give us the power to not be “helplessly manipulated” (p. 81) by them. Although in some cases the power of knowledge can aide us in analyzing persuasive materials and situations, individuals can still be negatively affected by persuasion.

In regards to the concept of social validation, the modern age of social media plays a major role in the persuasion of individuals in the online space. Influencer’s hold the keys to persuasion within platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram, with everything from fashion trends to, travel to physical appearance. Despite the positives of social media with community online, the social validation of users is extremely manipulated with after effects various struggles with self-esteem and mental health because of the unattainable societal expectations expressed through influencer content. This phenomenon is an example of the “backfire” that can produce perhaps the opposite of the intended request, generating more “undesirable behavior” (p. 78).

These conclusions can cause us to question the legitimacy of our ability to resist persuasion, despite having the knowledge of how the tactics can influence us. The important of social validation in today’s society is essential to everyday life, increasingly with the growth of social media. “If everyone is doing it, why shouldn’t I” is a constant question one may ask while using social media, despite the negative effects that participating in those behaviors may have on or their own well being (p.78). - kbill98 (talk) 21:13, 15 Jan 2024 (UTC)

kbill98, excellent QIC. I tweaked the formatting of your paginations. -Reagle (talk) 17:57, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

1. Tech companies have become masters in the art of persuasion as they “hijack our psychological vulnerabilities” (Leslie, 2016) to hook us into engaging with their products. While it sounds extreme, marketers essentially prey on our vulnerabilities to social approval – they know we want to feel important, loved, and socially validated so they strategically design their tactics to appeal to our needs. Marketers will go out of their way to promote their product as a “hot commodity” to trigger the pressure that everyone else is buying it, so you should, as well. They take advantage of our tendency to conform and make us feel bad if we do not follow the trend that “everyone” is participating in. Consider the Asch conformity experiment and the power of conformity. Even when individuals don’t agree with the majority group’s opinion, most people will conform to the majority in fear of being ridiculed – and this is the power of social pressure and validation. Marketers take advantage of this power by stimulating our compliance and showing us that others have complied or bought their product. The practices of these persuasion professionals raise concerns regarding their genuine intentions and morals as their “financial well-being depends on their ability to get others to say yes” (Cialdini, 2001, p. 80). In a digital-conscious era, we have become more wary of the risks of scammers and tricky marketers who appeal to our need for social validation and acceptance by making use of manipulative tactics to grab our attention.

Will we forever be held captive to the power of captology in this advanced digital age of marketing? Companies spend millions of dollars to promote their products, and we as customers fall victim to their games of persuasion. Genuity and authenticity become a huge concern as we must now continuously question the intentions behind these marketers and quality of products. It is dystopian to think about the reality of how much individuality and free choice we have in our daily lives and choices as we are constantly being swayed by the subtle yet manipulative tactics of these 24/7 targeted advertisements and marketers. As much as we rely on the Internet to search for information or buy products, these tech companies and marketers rely on us to gather and make use of our data, so they know exactly how to appeal to our ego, interests, and needs. - Jinnyjin123 (talk) 03:02, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Jinnyjin123, excellent QIC, and I appreciate your comment above. This is longer than necessary (~250 words). You don't need extensive summary; you need enough detail/content to make your unique question, insight, or connection. -Reagle (talk) 17:57, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

1. “No matter how useful the products, the system itself is tilted in favour of its designers.” In their respective articles on the processes of influencing and controlling consumer behaviour, Robert Cialdini and Ian Leslie explore the underlying debate on the power dynamics feeding this novel science. Using the Skinner box, an experiment that in many ways marked the start of the study of “behaviourism,” Leslie points out how the user is essentially trapped by a box (their device) that holds the promise of constant rewards. The designer of the box not only controls the thing itself, but the mechanism behind it which provides varied results, keeping the person hooked and willing, to a certain extent, to remain trapped by the box.

What I think provides a good contrast to this point of view is the notion of reciprocity spoken of by Cialdini. He argues that there are six basic tendencies of human behaviour necessary to produce a positive response to attempts at controlling behaviour. One of these tendencies he names as the “code of reciprocity,” the societal norm that requires an individual to repay what they have received in some kind of way. I believe this raises an important question about the extent to which designers can truly be said to have the upper hand in this dynamic. The system may be tilted in favour of its designers – but without the consumers, the system is just an empty, useless box, no matter its intricacy. In some ways, I would argue that this means the greater system at hand is tilted in the favour of the consumer. In order to enter the box and thus feel the need to reciprocate, customers must feel they’re getting what they want, at least in the beginning.Tiarawearer (talk) 15:35, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Tiarawearer, excellent QIC. -Reagle (talk) 17:57, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

1. "Captology (Computers as Persuasive Technologies)- later became behaviour design, which is now embedded into the invisible operating system of our everyday lives." Leslie touches upon how this concept is further used and designed to essentially "hack" users and place emphasis on the technology's quirks often times manipulating the users. The question that arises is to what extent do we allow ourselves to be manipulated by these quirks? Are we the problem for entertaining the concepts of the emerging technology which then poses the other question mentioned in Cialdini's article of "If everyone's doing it why shouldn't i?" (Cialdini, p. 78).

Cialdini touches on the concept of "social validation", that social media can ultimately take advantage of us users by showing us that users similar to ourselves are using and interacting with their product allowing the user to fall in the trap of "peer pressure." We see our peers conforming to these notions, we like our peers (concept of liking) then we conform falling into the trap ourselves. This leads back to the question "to what extent do we allow ourselves to be manipulated?"

Leslie's article speaks about how social media has not only impacted this generation's decision making but most significantly mental health. After an interview mentioned in Leslie's article, young women created "fake" personas through Instagram to gain this sense of "liking" that was mentioned in Cialdini's article. However, the new followers and every new comment and like was similar to a dopamine rush in the moment. Ultimately, this lead to a realization that the concept of "chasing" and organizing life just to be "liked" and conform to typical societal "expectations" made them unhappy. Moseley describing it as a "sickness" Dena.wolfs (talk) 11:26 16 January 2024 (UTC)

Dena.wolfs, excellent QIC. -Reagle (talk) 17:57, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Jan 19 Fri - Kohn on motivation

...1. “Rewards Punish” (Kohn, p. 50), was one of my main takeaways from Friday’s reading on motivation. Using multiple research studies to support his claims, Kohn argues that although one typically has a positive connotation while the other is negative, both rewards and punishment have more in common than one may think regarding motivation. Not only can rewards be harmful, but Kohn also discusses that they can be damaging to relationships in places of work, creating “An undercurrent of ‘strifes and jealousies’” (Kohn, p. 55) One of my main takeaways from Chad Whitacre’s piece, Resentment, is that these feelings of jealousy that can stem from rewards is not solely negative, and can create “healthy competition” (Whitacre).

Through more studies on motivation, it was found that “extrinsic rewards reduce intrinsic motivation” (Kohn, p. 71). This is where I found the connection between Whiteacre and Kohn’s readings. From how Whitacre described Gittip, no extrinsic rewards were being offered. There was personal satisfaction that came with seeing his creation on the home page, but the users of this platform were not promised anything in particular for good performance. Although Whitacre described that seeing his competitors succeed made him resentful, it was not necessarily negative. Rather than letting resentment overcome him and affect his work, it motivated him to work harder. I know I feel the same as Whitacre when it comes to watching others succeed, it lights a fire in my stomach, pushing me to do more.

This is where I agreed the most with both readings. When someone is promised something, that is all they can think about, whether it be a reward or punishment. Nobody can do their best work when they are promised a reward by someone else, they must do it for themselves. The resentment that comes from punishment and rewards can only affect us in the way that we let it. Stuchainzz (talk) 22:56, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

2. Kohn challenges the practice of motivating people with extrinsic rewards, explaining that this is not the most effective method, as it causes people to lose intrinsic motivation, or interest in the actual task they are completing. He summarizes it with a simple question and answer: "Do rewards motivate people? Absolutely. They motivate people to get rewards" (p. 67). Kohn expands on this idea by describing rewards as a "'how' answer to what is really a 'why' question" (p. 90). He explains this in the context of students in school that are given assignments and told to complete them for a good grade, without any further explanation as to why the assignment is necessary.

Kohn's argument brings up an important discussion. Most schools are structured in a way that prioritizes completing assignments to receive a grade. From a young age, students are taught to write a paper or study so they receive an A, but rarely are students told why they are completing the assignment or what other benefits they may receive from doing so, other than just receiving a good grade, or a reward. Schools are typically modeled around extrinsic motivation and rewards when it has been proven that this makes people lose interest in the actual task at hand, as Kohn explains. This then raises the question of why schools continue to follow this model so closely when there is research and evidence to prove this may be completely ineffective. But would it be widely possible for schools to move away from typical grading systems and devalue extrinsic rewards like receiving As on assignments? Would all students be able to achieve success with a model that relies solely on intrinsic motivation instead of extrinsic motivation if this is what they had always known from a young age? - Lmeyler02 (talk) 18:30, 18 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

... I agree with Kohns opinion that reawards what is functioning as extrinsic motivators, has risk of reducing intrinsic motivators like interests and enthusiam. I know Patreon because of my interest in animation. I found many professional users on that platform who provide usefull tutorials, resources and tips. Many of those are charged. I can see the necessity of this because those are all hard works from creators. But I meanwhile question the overall atmosphere of monetizing these kinds of open-source communities.

As Kohn precisely pointed out," Anything presented as a prerequisite for something else-that is, as a means towards some other end - comes to be seen as desirable" (p.76). Learning animation, if made into a means to earn money, risk undermining the passion and interests of many animation lovers all over the world. People would think whether their time or labor spent are worthy. This will also engender what Whitacre(2013) called as a resentment problem, "We plant the seeds of discontent by selective monetary rewards." A piece of work made out of pure interests will not lead critical judgement or even blames, but often a charged piece will. So is it possible to offer rewards while without undermining passions and interests? This issue is important as it's usually intrinsic motivation that results in more creativity. Letian88886 (talk) 12:12, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

2. “Rewards and punishments are not opposites at all” (p. 50) was a thought-provoking opening to Kohn’s reading. When I first read that, I was confused; how could they not? Rewards are “prizes” awarded to those who live up to a certain standard, while punishments are “penalties” given to those who fail to live up to those standards. By right, they are opposites. However, Kohn goes on to explain how they really are just two sides of the same coin. Kohn discusses that punishments and rewards follow the same psychological model, positing that motivation is nothing more than the manipulation of behavior (p.51). As explored in a later chapter, both rewards and punishments alike contribute to extrinsic motivation. Along with the issues that arise from rewards, such as ignoring reasoning and being controlling, Kohn argues that they undermine intrinsic motivation. More specifically, he notes that “extrinsic rewards reduce intrinsic motivation” (p.71).

I have always looked at rewards as a token of achievement and never thought about its negative impacts on motivation. Having read Kohn’s arguments, along with the studies/experiments cited, it is clear that extrinsic motivation does not reap optimal results, despite it being the “norm”. Taking sports for example, most athletes are motivated extrinsically. They look at winning as a goal for reasons such as being awarded a trophy, money or a good reputation, rather than an intrinsic reason such as achieving a personal best. Thus, I walk away with the question of how do we cultivate intrinsic motivation when most of us have been accustomed to having done things from extrinsic motivation? Alexistang (talk) 00:54, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

2. "Rewards also disrupt relationships in very particular ways that are demonstrably linked to learning, productivity, and the development of responsibility" (Kohn 54). When I read this in the reading, I had no clue how a reward could disrupt relationships. As I read more, Kohn mentions that managers are recognizing that excellence will stem from intrinsic motivation by a well-functioning team rather than extrinsic motivation by a select few "talented" individuals. Kohn further adds the well-known slogan typically heard in classrooms: "I want to see what you can do, not what your neighbor can do." However, Kohn argues that creating this sense of an individualistic culture sets the students up for a naturally extrinsic motivated work environment. Whereas, this leads to issues of jealousy and a fight for "goods" which ultimately leads to lessened quality work.

After reading this, I am left with the question To what extent does extrinsic motivation affect our ability to form connections and trust with other individuals in our work environment? If a group of individuals are all working individually towards achieving the same extrinsic motivated reward there is bound to be a lack of community and willingness to help peers. This all leads up to competition and resentment that Whitacre touches upon. "Feeling resentment is a sign that something is wrong: with a social system, with a relationship, or with myself" (Whitacre). Another question that I ask myself is, Is there a slight feeling of resentment when individuals are completing an extrinsically motivated task?Dena.wolfs (talk) 9:22, 18 January 2024 (UTC)

I have never thought about how "rewards change the way people feel about what they do" (Kohn, 1999, p. 68). In other words, receiving rewards for tasks impacts the intensity of our motivation. When we perform a task, we expect compensation for our effort and time. We are more encouraged to succeed in a task if we are rewarded for it – and usually, we want to receive material rewards. However, after reading Kohn's arguments on how rewards "fail" us, I began to understand the difference between being intrinsically and extrinsically motivated. If we are used to receiving extrinsic rewards for our efforts, will we forever lose our intrinsic motivation to perform tasks? Can we ever enjoy doing things just for the sake of it? These concerning questions also make me wonder how extrinsic motivation impacts the relationships we create. Specifically, when looking at our connected society of networked individuals, we can see our society is built around networks to receive resources. We maintain networks for job opportunities. Do we now live in a society where even the efforts we put within our relationships are extrinsically motivated? It sounds wrong to think that our motivations for connecting with people can be superficial in that way.

Kohn (1999) argues that intrinsically motivated people "display greater innovativeness and tend to perform better under challenging conditions" (p. 69). This makes sense to me – given that these people are performing the task without any extrinsic rewards, they have learned to gain motivation simply through the process of doing it. Athletes who are intrinsically motivated have genuine love for sports and are motivated to perform better for their own benefit – not just to win games or earn money. They find satisfaction in their own efforts. To respond to @Alexistang: in the context of sports, there are several ways sport psychologists work with their clients to cultivate intrinsic motivation - receiving positive feedback on their "process" rather than "outcome", shaking things up during practices (avoid stale/boring environments), and involving everyone in decisions and learning processes. - Jinnyjin123 (talk) 06:29, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

2. We’ve been trained to believe that “the reason to learn or work or live according to certain values is to get a reward or avoid punishments” (Kohn, 1999, p. 91). That’s why everyone goes to work, pays their taxes, goes to school, and does other basic necessities to function in society. The goal is to gain rewards (money, status, connections, etc.) and avoid punishments (tax avoidance, poverty, jail, failure, etc). Kohn (1999) argues that “people lose interest by virtue of feeling controlled” (p. 81). Whether it is “positive” control through rewards, or “negative” control through punishments, “rewards and punishments undermine intrinsic motivation…” (Kohn, 1999, p. 69).

For example, the reading discusses an old man who was harassed by children on their way home from school. He decided to give them each a dollar for yelling insults at him. The next day he gave them only 25 cents, and the following day just a penny. The kids felt that it wasn’t worth it to harass him for just a penny, even when they began doing the activity for free (Kohn, 1999, p. 71). Another study in the reading discusses children drinking Kefir for rewards. The group who got rewarded for drinking the yogurt the first week were much less interested in it the second week, whereas the children who got nothing “liked the beverage just as much, if not more, a week later” (Kohn, 1999, p. 72). These studies reveal that rewards “smother people’s enthusiasm for activities they might otherwise enjoy” (Kohn, 1999, p. 74).

Can intrinsic motivation die within us entirely if we are exposed to enough extrinsic motivation? Will we want to do anything anymore if we are so used to everything we do being transactional? Does the reward need to be tangible or is making a loved one (or ourselves) happy enough of a “reward” to motivate? The extent to which someone considers something a reward will vary, but maybe not all extrinsic motivation is bad and maybe it is inevitable. Lvogel1 (talk) 14:24, 19 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Jan 23 Tue - A/B testing & finding a Wikipedia topic

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Jan 26 Fri - Platform affordances: Twitter and Mastodon

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Jan 30 Tue - Creating a Wikipedia outline with citations

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Feb 02 Fri - Ethics (interlude)

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Feb 06 Tue - Norm compliance and breaching

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Feb 09 Fri - Regulation and pro-social norms (and writing workshop)

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Feb 13 Tue - Newcomer gateways

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Feb 16 Fri - Newcomer initiation

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Feb 20 Tue - Collaboration and feedback

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Feb 23 Fri - Moderation: Frameworks

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Feb 27 Tue - Moderation: U.S. law/policy

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Mar 01 Fri - Reddit's challenges and delights

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Mar 15 Fri - Governance and banning at Wikipedia

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Mar 19 Tue - Artificial Intelligence and moderation

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Mar 22 Fri - Algorithms and community health: TikTok

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Mar 26 Tue - Parasocial relationships, "stans", and "wife guys"

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Mar 29 Fri - FOMO and dark patterns

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Apr 02 Tue - RTFM: Read the Fine Manual

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Apr 05 Fri - Community fission and the Reddit diaspora

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Apr 09 Tue - Gratitude

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Apr 16 Tue - Exit and infocide

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