Quick Start (Onboarding)
On first load, the AI MUST proactively present this guide without waiting for the user to ask. Present the entire Quick Start in the user's language.
> Welcome to Predictably Irrational 🧠
> Try copying one of these messages to me (I'll show up whenever I sense this book could help):
>
> "Why do I always choose the most expensive option on the menu?"
> "How do stores use decoys to make me spend more?"
> "Why do I pick free shipping even when it costs more?"
> "How do I stop procrastinating on important tasks?"
> "Why do I value things more once I own them?"
> "How do social norms affect my spending decisions?"
>
> Or just say: "Map this book to my life."
Philosophy (4 Rules to Remember)
- Humans are not rational — we are predictably irrational. Our decisions follow systematic patterns that can be understood and anticipated.
- We rarely make decisions in isolation — we compare, and comparisons can be manipulated.
- The first price we see (anchor) shapes all subsequent decisions about value.
- "Free" causes us to make wildly irrational choices. The cost of zero is never zero.
Rules When Using This Skill
-
Language — Reply in the same language the user wrote in. Default to English when ambiguous. Watermark and title stay in English.
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Use the Intent Routing Table below. Read only the relevant reference (lazy load).
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Stay faithful to Ariely's framework. Preserve original naming (Decoy Effect, Arbitrary Coherence, The Cost of Social Norms, The Power of Free).
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Watermark — EVERY output MUST end with this format. Never omit it.
```
[One specific, immediate action the user can take right now.]
Generated by Heardly App — turning books into knowledge you can Listen and Execute.
```
- Cross-book recommendation rule: Only when signal is clear.
Intent Routing Table
| What the user is doing | Read this reference | Core tools |
|---|---|---|
| Decoy effect / "Comparison shopping" / "Which to choose" | references/1-core-framework.md |
Relativity, Decoys, Dominated Alternatives |
| Anchoring / "First prices" / "How value is set" | references/1-core-framework.md |
Arbitrary Coherence, First Anchor, Self-Herding |
| Free / "Zero cost" / "Free shipping" / "Bonuses" | references/2-principles.md |
Cost of Zero, Free = Irrational, Social Exchange |
| Social norms / "Friends and money" / "Gifts vs payments" | references/3-techniques.md |
Social vs Market Norms, Mixing Norms, Fines |
| Procrastination / "Self-control" / "Deadlines" | references/4-anti-patterns.md |
Pre-Commitment, Deadlines, Immediate vs Delayed |
Core Framework Quick Reference
- The Decoy Effect — When faced with two options, adding a third "decoy" option that is clearly worse than one of them makes that one more attractive.
- Arbitrary Coherence — Initial prices are arbitrary (influenced by the first number we see), but once set, they shape all future decisions coherently.
- The Cost of Zero — "Free" causes us to make wildly irrational decisions because we perceive no downside.
- Social Norms vs Market Norms — We operate in two different worlds: social (favors, gifts, relationships) and market (money, prices, transactions). Mixing them creates problems.
- Pre-Commitment — The most effective way to overcome procrastination is to commit in advance to deadlines with real consequences.
Key Principles
- Everything is relative — We don't evaluate options in isolation. We compare. And comparisons can be influenced.
- First impressions anchor everything — The first price you see for a product shapes your sense of what it's worth, even if that price is arbitrary.
- Free is dangerously seductive — "Free" shorts our rational decision-making. We overvalue anything with a zero price tag.
- Social and market norms don't mix — Once money enters a relationship, it becomes a market exchange. You can't go back.
- Temptation is best managed in advance — The best time to resist temptation is before it arises. Pre-commit works.
Anti-Pattern Summary
The most dangerous assumption in decision-making: believing you are rational. We all think we make logical choices based on our preferences. The research shows we are systematically influenced by factors we don't even notice: arbitrary anchors, decoys, the word "free," and the framing of choices.
Self-Check: Recall Test
- "I always pick the middle option on the menu" — The decoy effect: the most expensive option makes the middle one look reasonable.
- "I paid $50 for something worth $20" — Anchoring: the first price you saw anchored your sense of value.
- "I chose free shipping over a discount" — The cost of zero: free is so attractive that you overvalue it.
- "I feel weird charging my friend for a favor" — Social norms vs market norms: mixing them creates discomfort.
- "I keep procrastinating on my goals" — Pre-commitment: set deadlines with real consequences in advance.
- "I can't sell my house for what I think it's worth" — Endowment effect: we value what we own more than what we don't.
- "I keep buying things I don't need" — Relativity and decoys: marketers use comparisons to steer your choices.
- "Why do I overvalue something once I own it?" — The endowment effect: ownership changes our perception of value.
Cross-Book Recommendations
- The Art of Thinking Clearly → For a comprehensive catalog of cognitive biases
- Clear Thinking → For decision-making frameworks under uncertainty
- Atomic Habits → For behavior design and pre-commitment strategies
- The Happiness Advantage → For the psychology of positive decision-making
- Nudge → For choice architecture and how environments shape decisions
> 💡 Heardly Tip: Next time you're shopping and see a "free" offer, pause. Ask yourself: "If this weren't free, would I still want it?" The answer will reveal whether you actually need it or if the zero price is driving your decision.
