Psychology in UX Design (2026): +25 Examples To Improve UI and the Experience.

This principle states that the time required to move to and select a target is determined by the target’s size and its distance from the user. In practice, larger and closer elements are faster and easier to interact with, while small or distant ones take longer and increase the chance of errors.

This principle states that users find it easier to recognize options presented to them than to recall information from memory. In UX, this means interfaces should display choices, hints, or familiar patterns rather than forcing users to remember commands or details on their own.

This principle explains how people rely on their immediate emotions when making decisions, often judging something as good or bad based on how they feel in the moment rather than through careful analysis. In UX, this means a user’s overall impression of a product — its look, tone, or first interaction — can strongly shape their choices and trust.

This principle describes how people rely too heavily on the first piece of information they encounter — the “anchor” — when making decisions. In UX, this means the initial price, rating, or option shown can strongly influence how users judge everything that follows.

This principle describes the tendency to place greater trust in opinions, suggestions, or actions from perceived authority figures. In UX, this means users are more likely to follow recommendations, adopt features, or trust content when it’s presented or endorsed by experts, professionals, or reputable brands.

This principle explains how people tend to adopt behaviors, beliefs, or choices simply because many others are doing the same. In UX, this means highlighting popularity — like showing “most popular plans” or user counts — can strongly influence decisions and drive adoption.

This principle refers to users’ tendency to ignore elements that look like ads or overly decorative banners. In UX, it means important content or navigation placed in ad-like formats may be overlooked, so key information should be integrated naturally into the design.

This principle describes how people tend to spend more when using cards or digital payments compared to cash, since the “pain of paying” feels less immediate. In UX, this means seamless payment flows — like one-click checkout or digital wallets — can encourage higher spending and reduce purchase hesitation.

This principle refers to how people perceive the passage of time, which can differ greatly from actual clock time. In UX, it means waiting feels shorter when users are engaged, distracted, or given progress indicators, and much longer when the interface is static or unclear.

This principle explains how people process information more easily when it’s grouped into smaller, meaningful units. In UX, breaking content or tasks into chunks — like steps in a form or grouped menu items — helps reduce cognitive load and makes information easier to scan and remember.

This principle refers to the amount of mental effort required to process information at any given time. In UX, high cognitive load — caused by cluttered interfaces, complex choices, or unclear instructions — overwhelms users and leads to mistakes. Clear layouts, concise content, and guided flows help reduce it.

This principle describes people’s tendency to stay consistent with their past choices and commitments. In UX, even small initial actions — like signing up for a newsletter or setting a preference — make users more likely to continue engaging with a product or service.

This principle describes the tendency to seek, notice, and favor information that confirms existing beliefs while ignoring evidence that contradicts them. In UX, it means users may interpret feedback or results in ways that support their expectations, so designs should present balanced, clear information to reduce misinterpretation.

his principle refers to the space between what people know and what they want to know, which drives them to seek more information. In UX, it’s used in headlines, previews, or progressive disclosures that spark interest without giving everything away, motivating users to click, scroll, or explore further.

This principle describes the difficulty experts have in imagining what it’s like for beginners who don’t share their knowledge. In UX, it means designers and product teams may assume users understand terms or processes that actually need clearer explanations, leading to confusion or frustration.

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This principle explains how the quality of decisions declines after people make too many choices in a row. In UX, overwhelming users with options — like long forms or multiple plan tiers — can lead to poor choices or abandonment. Simplifying decisions and guiding users step by step helps reduce fatigue.

This principle describes people’s tendency to stick with pre-set options rather than changing them, since defaults feel like the easiest and most trusted choice. In UX, it means carefully chosen default settings — like opt-in toggles or preselected plans — can strongly influence user behavior.

This principle refers to small, unexpected details in a product that spark joy and create a memorable experience. In UX, delighters can be playful microinteractions, thoughtful animations, or personalized touches that go beyond solving a problem and leave users with a positive emotional impression.

This principle describes how easily users can find and understand available features or actions in an interface. In UX, good discoverability means buttons, menus, and interactions are intuitive and visible without requiring extra effort, reducing confusion and encouraging engagement.

This principle explains how people with low knowledge or skill in a subject tend to overestimate their abilities, while experts may underestimate theirs. In UX, it highlights the need for clear guidance and onboarding, since users might feel overconfident at first but still make mistakes without proper support.

This principle describes how people’s perceptions and judgments are shaped by what they expect to experience. In UX, it means users approach products with mental models formed by past experiences, so interfaces that match these expectations feel intuitive, while mismatches can cause confusion or frustration.

This principle refers to people’s tendency to overestimate how much others share their beliefs, preferences, or behaviors. In UX, it means designers may assume users think or act like they do, leading to biased design choices — user research is key to countering this bias.

This principle describes a system where outputs are fed back into the process as inputs, reinforcing or adjusting behavior over time. In UX, feedback loops show users the results of their actions — like progress bars, notifications, or rewards — which guide behavior, build habits, and keep engagement ongoing.

This principle refers to providing cues or signals that help users predict the outcome of an action before they take it. In UX, feedforward can be hover states, button labels, or previews that set clear expectations and reduce uncertainty, making interactions more intuitive.

This principle describes a mental state where people are fully immersed, focused, and enjoying an activity, often losing track of time. In UX, designs that balance challenge with ease — like smooth interactions, clear goals, and minimal distractions — can help users enter and maintain flow.

This principle explains how the way information is presented influences decisions and perceptions. In UX, framing affects user choices — such as highlighting savings instead of costs, or labeling a plan as “most popular” — by shaping how options are mentally evaluated.

• from our ebook User Psychology 3.