We’ve all faced the dilemma: where to eat, what to eat? Let’s imagine the user experience of lunchtime in Harvard Square. You’ve got the whole gamut at your fingertips: Clover,…

While Soulcycle certainly induces the post-workout hormones that could be considered to contribute to physio-pleasure, much of its success can actually be attributed to the socio-pleasure derived from being a…

Reusable straws are not necessarily viscerally pleasing (although they can be) or behaviorally more functional; however, there is a strong element of reflective or ideo-pleasure that is derived from using…

Pinterest is a visceral cornucopia. Yet while the visual component of Pinterest may be the first aspect that users think of, its behavioral components are perhaps more responsible for its…

Naked Juice marries the mental self-image of wanting to be healthy with the physical desire (hedonism) for sugar/good-tasting food. The drink actually happens to be quite unhealthy in reality; however,…

Athleisure benefits from being at the intersection of the ideo-pleasure gained from looking and feeling like a healthy, athletic individual and the visceral appeal of clothes that are relatively fashionable…

March of Dimes is relatively well known for their marketing strategies, one of which uses the principle of reciprocity and specifically involves sending a dime in the mail to potential…

While the Hydro Flask is certainly a viscerally pleasing and good quality water bottle, its recently ubiquitous presence is undoubtedly a result of Cialdini’s concept of social proof, which young…

Birchbox takes the social desire to experiment with and delve into the world of beauty and makes it easier and less costly to do so (i.e. increases subscriber’s ability to…

While Spotify certainly benefits from social proof and word-of-mouth marketing, the biggest drivers behind its success is perhaps that it reduces the effort and cost of downloading a large quantity…