We like to think of ourselves as unique, rational, and unpredictable. But as this post from Roger Dooley reveals, the truth is far more unsettling: we’re often running on autopilot, responding to subtle cues and psychological triggers we’re not even aware of.
What disturbs me most is not that companies use this knowledge – it’s how well it works. We’re not just influenced; we’re predictably influenced. Patterns emerge. Behaviors repeat. And what we think of as free will starts to look alarmingly like a well-written script.
It’s a reminder that awareness – of ourselves, of the systems around us – is the only defense we have. And even then, we’re fighting deeply wired instincts.
Highly recommend the read.