"Why You Believe The Things You Do" - Analysis of LinkedIn: Driving Engagement with Gamification

"Why You Believe The Things You Do" - Analysis of LinkedIn: Driving Engagement with Gamification

Beliefs are a powerful force that shape our thoughts and actions. What we believe to be true is often influenced by various factors, such as our desire for it to be true and the need for hope in uncertain times. During the Great Plague of London, for example, people turned to prophecies, astrological conjurations, and old wives' tales as a way to find solace amidst the devastation. When faced with a crisis, the bar for belief is lowered, and we are more inclined to accept anything that offers hope.

In today's world, beliefs can be molded and defended in various ways. Gibson's Law, a concept in the legal world, states that for every PhD, there is an equal and opposite PhD. This means that no matter what argument you present, there will always be an expert witness who is willing to support the opposing view for a fee. This highlights the fact that beliefs are not always centered around discovering what is true, but rather serve other purposes such as justifying past actions, protecting one's reputation, or maximizing income. Beliefs often become tools for signaling our belonging to a particular tribe or group.

Our memories also play a role in shaping our beliefs. We cannot remember all the details of every experience we have, so we rely on sharpening and leveling to construct a version of events in our minds. We emphasize certain memories that make good stories, confirm stereotypes, or connect dots between other experiences. This selective memory process can lead to the formation of false beliefs, as we prioritize certain aspects of our experiences over others.

Changing our minds and admitting mistakes can be challenging. We are more likely to cling to false beliefs than to accept that we were wrong. This reluctance to change our beliefs stems from a fear of uncertainty and a desire to maintain a sense of stability in our lives. This is contrary to the core principle of a scientific lifestyle, which encourages changing one's mind when faced with new information. However, society often praises leaders who stubbornly stick to their views as a sign of strength, perpetuating a culture of intellectual inertia.

The prevalence of cognitive biases further complicates the formation of beliefs. Logic should be the basis of scientific reasoning, but wishful thinking, irrational fears, and other biases often take precedence. Richard Feynman, a renowned physicist, emphasized the importance of distrusting experts in the pursuit of scientific knowledge. However, blind faith in authority figures and herd mentality are still prevalent, hindering our ability to think critically and objectively.

Beliefs also serve as social signals, conveying information about our intelligence, confidence, and ability to relay reliable information to others. We often seek experts who are confident and unwavering in their beliefs, rather than those who are open to changing their minds. This desire for certainty and the elimination of uncertainty can lead us to believe things that have little relation to reality.

In the context of LinkedIn, gamification techniques are used to drive engagement and motivate users to complete their profiles. The profile completeness bar, for example, not only displays the percentage of profile completion but also highlights the benefits of having a complete profile. LinkedIn states that users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities. This simple statistic serves as a powerful motivator for users to update their profiles and remain active on the platform. The profile strength indicator, represented by a filled circle, further reinforces the need for continuous improvement. Users are more likely to update their profiles and seek endorsements, as LinkedIn claims that those who use the "Skills & Endorsements" section receive 13 times more profile views. Endorsements act as intrinsic rewards, providing a sense of personal achievement and professional growth.

LinkedIn's approach to gamification demonstrates the effectiveness of appealing to basic human satisfaction. By incorporating meaningful statistics and visual indicators, the platform successfully motivates users to engage and improve their profiles. This approach highlights the importance of understanding human psychology and leveraging intrinsic rewards to drive desired behaviors.

In conclusion, our beliefs are shaped by various factors, including our desire for certainty, the need for hope, and the urge to defend past actions or protect our reputation. Our memories play a role in constructing our beliefs, and we often prioritize certain aspects of our experiences while discarding others. Changing our minds and admitting mistakes can be challenging, but it is crucial for intellectual growth. The scientific lifestyle encourages us to embrace new information and avoid intellectual inertia. However, biases and the desire for certainty often prevail over logic and critical thinking. In the context of LinkedIn, gamification techniques effectively drive engagement by appealing to users' intrinsic rewards and motivations. By understanding human psychology and leveraging these techniques, platforms can encourage desired behaviors and facilitate personal and professional growth.

Actionable Advice:

1. Embrace uncertainty and be open to changing your beliefs when faced with new information. This is crucial for intellectual growth and the pursuit of truth.
2. Challenge your own biases and actively seek out diverse perspectives. Surround yourself with people who will challenge your beliefs and help you see different viewpoints.
3. Take a critical approach to information and avoid blind faith in authority figures. Trust in experts should be earned through their willingness to change their minds based on evidence and rational reasoning.