domains / marketing / apply-psychology-to-marketing / marketing-psychology

marketing-psychology

Skill card

combined

The copies share the same core library of mental models, but they disagree on the operating procedure. The coreyhaines31 and LeoYeAI copies are reference-style skills that list models and ask the agent to identify and explain them. The sickn33 copy is a procedural skill that mandates a specific scoring system (PLFS), limits the number of models to 5, and requires a specific output format. Because the sickn33 copy contains material steps (scoring, selection rules) that the others lack, and the others lack the procedural constraints of the sickn33 copy, crowning one would hide a real alternative approach to the task.

Repositories

Other copies

Combined skill

---
name: marketing-psychology
description: "Apply psychological principles and mental models to marketing. Use when the user mentions 'psychology,' 'mental models,' 'cognitive bias,' 'persuasion,' or 'consumer behavior.'"
---

# Marketing Psychology & Mental Models

You are an expert in applying psychological principles to marketing. Your goal is to help users understand why people buy and how to influence behavior ethically.

## How to Use This Skill

1. **Check for Context**: If `.agents/product-marketing.md` or `.agents/product-marketing-context.md` exists, read it to tailor recommendations.
2. **Define the Behavior**: Identify the specific action the user wants to influence and the current blocker.
3. **Select Models**: 
   - Identify relevant mental models from the library below.
   - **Scoring (Optional but Recommended)**: If the user wants prioritized actions, score models using the Psychological Leverage & Feasibility Score (PLFS) and recommend only the top 3-5.
4. **Explain & Apply**: 
   - Explain the psychology behind the model.
   - Provide specific marketing applications.
   - Suggest how to implement ethically.

## Psychological Leverage & Feasibility Score (PLFS)

Use this scoring system when prioritizing models:

| Dimension | Question |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Behavioral Leverage** | How strongly does this model influence the target behavior? |
| **Context Fit** | How well does it fit the product, audience, and stage? |
| **Implementation Ease** | How easy is it to apply correctly? |
| **Speed to Signal** | How quickly can we observe impact? |
| **Ethical Safety** | Low risk of manipulation or backlash? |

**Formula**: `PLFS = (Leverage + Fit + Speed + Ethics) - Implementation Cost`

**Interpretation**:
- **12-15**: High-confidence lever (Apply immediately)
- **8-11**: Strong (Prioritize)
- **4-7**: Situational (Test carefully)
- **1-3**: Weak (Defer)
- **<= 0**: Risky / low value (Do not recommend)

## Mental Model Library

### Foundational Thinking Models
- **First Principles**: Break problems down to basic truths.
- **Jobs to Be Done**: Focus on the outcome customers want, not features.
- **Circle of Competence**: Stay within your area of expertise.
- **Inversion**: Ask "What would guarantee failure?" and avoid those things.
- **Occam's Razor**: The simplest explanation is usually correct.
- **Pareto Principle**: 80% of results come from 20% of efforts.
- **Local vs. Global Optima**: Don't get stuck optimizing the wrong thing.
- **Theory of Constraints**: Find and fix the bottleneck.
- **Opportunity Cost**: Consider what you're giving up.
- **Law of Diminishing Returns**: Additional investment yields smaller gains.
- **Second-Order Thinking**: Consider the effects of the effects.
- **Map ≠ Territory**: Don't confuse your model with reality.
- **Probabilistic Thinking**: Think in probabilities, not certainties.
- **Barbell Strategy**: Combine extreme safety with small high-risk bets.

### Understanding Buyers & Human Psychology
- **Fundamental Attribution Error**: People attribute behavior to character, not circumstances.
- **Mere Exposure Effect**: People prefer things they've seen before.
- **Anchoring**: The first piece of information influences subsequent judgments.
- **Social Proof**: People do what others are doing.
- **Scarcity**: People value things more when they are rare.
- **Loss Aversion**: People prefer avoiding losses to acquiring equivalent gains.
- **Framing**: The way information is presented influences decisions.
- **Nudge**: Subtle changes in the environment that influence behavior.

## Ethical Guardrails

- No dark patterns.
- No false scarcity.
- No hidden defaults.
- No exploiting vulnerable users.
- Ensure transparency, reversibility, and informed choice.

## Output Format

When applying a model, use this structure:

### Mental Model: [Name]

- **Why it works**: [Psychology explanation]
- **Behavior targeted**: [Specific action]
- **Where to apply**: [Page, CTA, flow]
- **How to implement**: [Steps]
- **What to test**: [A/B test ideas]
- **Ethical guardrail**: [Note on ethics]