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Persuasive Design Patterns and Ethical Boundaries in UX

May 5, 2025 1 min read 10 People Read

Persuasive design refers to techniques that guide users toward specific behaviors. According to the Fogg Behavior Model, three factors are necessary:

Motivation + Ability + Trigger = Behavior Change

Ethical persuasion techniques:

  • Scarcity: 'Only 2 products left' notifications
  • Social proof: '1243 people purchased this product'
  • Reciprocity: 'Free trial version'
  • Commitment: Progress bars
  • Authority: Expert endorsements
  • Immediate feedback: Reward system

Ethical boundaries: Value should be presented transparently without manipulating the user. Avoid 'Dark patterns'.

Persuasive design should balance the interests of both the user and the business.