1. Variable Rewards
What it is: Outcomes that change or are unpredictable from one element to the next.
Why it works: The uncertainty creates a sense of anticipation that builds up excitement, which fuels curiosity and keeps people hooked to see what might happen next.
Example: If you tell a person that there is a gift waiting for them at their next visit, it will drive a lot more motivation than if you tell the person exactly what they will get at their next visit. Because "what we don’t know, drives us." Or when we start build patterns in what we experience we start getting bored. Thus variation drives engagement.
Builds: Curiosity, anticipation, engagement - which leads to intrinsic motivation and flow
2. Investment
What it is: The time, effort, or resources people put in, leading them to value the outcome more.
Why it works: When individuals contribute something of themselves—be it energy, creativity, or resources—they feel a stronger connection and are less likely to abandon the experience.
Example: The more personal work or "you", you put into something the more attatched you get to it which then drives motivation to keep going. This can be done in a way where you actually use it as tool to hook people before they even get started. Simply by telling them to build their name in LEGO or something like that, that would actually make them want stay more. this is also embedded in the "ikea effect" and "the endowment effect" where people get more attached to things they made them self and own. rather than elements you follow along to build.
Builds: commitment, emotional attachment, perseverance - which leads to intrinsic motivation and flow
3. Progression "Visual"
What it is: Clear markers or indicators that show advancement, improvement, or completion over time.
Why it works: Seeing visible growth satisfies the need for accomplishment. It’s inherently rewarding to measure how far one has come, motivating continued participation.
Example: A fitness tracker that shows progress through milestones and achievements encourages users to keep working toward their fitness goals. This can also work on shorter scale say having visual steps to go through in one workshop. where you see juicy things happen then you complete a step.
Builds: Self esteem, confidence, achievement - which leads to intrinsic motivation and flow
4. Mastery
What it is: Gradual skill development or proficiency gained through practice and learning.
Why it works: People naturally enjoy getting better at something. The pursuit of expertise not only feels good but also instills a sense of pride and self esteem.
Example: A person learning to cook starts with simple recipes, gradually building confidence to tackle more complex dishes, reinforcing their motivation to improve. along with progression this is a core part of the positive reinforcement loop, where as challenges lets you build on "performance", you then seek greater challenges, so you can build more "performance".
Builds: Competence, persistence, confidence - which leads to intrinsic motivation and flow
5. Social Dynamics
What it is: Interactions involving cooperation, competition, recognition, or shared goals among individuals or groups.
Why it works: Humans are social creatures who respond strongly to peer influence, status, and communal experiences. Shared achievements or rivalries intensify motivation and commitment.
Example: In a workshop setting, having participants present their ideas to the group and receive instant feedback fosters both collaboration and a sense of accomplishment, boosting motivation.
Builds: Self esteem, social confidence, belonging - which leads to intrinsic motivation and flow
6. Autonomy
What it is: The freedom to make choices and shape one’s own path or experience.
Why it works: Having control fosters a sense of personal investment. When people feel that they’re directing their own journey, it amplifies both satisfaction and long-term engagement.
Example: In a workshop, participants start with a guided task to learn the basics. Once comfortable, they’re given freedom to iterate and experiment. Versus making them too locked in, they might feel restricted and disengaged, limiting creativity and motivation.
Builds: Creativity, Independence, ownership - which leads to intrinsic motivation and flow
7. Scarcity
What it is: Limiting access, availability, or time to elevate perceived value.
Why it works: Restricted resources or opportunities trigger a sense of urgency. People often prioritize something that feels rare or fleeting, driven by fear of missing out.
Example: In a workshop, giving participants only a handful of materials to solve a challenge forces them to think outside the box. The constraint pushes them to be more resourceful and creative than if they had unlimited options. also a part of the creative constraint theory
Builds: Urgency, value perception, prioritization - which leads to intrinsic motivation and flow
8. Curiosity
What it is: A gap in knowledge, mystery, or unresolved question that begs exploration.
Why it works: The innate drive to seek answers and uncover the unknown pushes people to continue an activity, as they’re drawn to reveal what lies just beyond their current understanding.
Example: A book with a suspenseful plot twist that isn’t revealed until the final chapter keeps readers engaged, as they are eager to uncover the mystery, much like how cliffhangers in TV series keep viewers eagerly waiting for the next episode. The brain craves resolution, which drives engagement and motivation to continue.
Builds: Exploration, problem-solving, engagement - which leads to intrinsic motivation and flow
9. Storytelling
What it is: Using narratives to create engagement and emotional connection.
Why it works: Stories make experiences more meaningful, relatable, and memorable. They provide context and structure, helping participants connect emotionally and stay engaged.
Example: A workshop where participants are given a scenario and must make decisions that shape the story keeps them engaged. When they see how their choices impact the outcome, they become more invested, making the experience more immersive and motivating. in many games when you create an avatar, you end up doing things for the avatar and are motivated to keep the story going for an entity that does not exisit in reality outside that persons mind.
Builds: Emotional connection, immersion - which leads to intrinsic motivation and flow
Sources: Hooked: Building habit forming products - Nir Eyal, Flow - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Scarcity - Eldar Shafir, Creativity - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Jytte fra marketing - Morten Münster
