Studies on reinforcement revealed that the best way for us to learn complex behaviors is via continuous reinforcement, in which the desired behavior is rewarded every time it’s performed. Consistency and timing are the keys.

Nonetheless, some argue that intermittent reinforcement is the most efficient way to maintain an already learnt behavior. It consists of giving reinforcement only some of the times that the desired behavior occurs.

• Rewarding the behavior immediately may take time away from the behavior’s continuation.
• It’s cheaper not to reward every instance of a desired behavior.
• By making the rewards unpredictable, you trigger excitement and thus get an increase in response without increasing the amount of reinforcement.
• Since the person is already adapted to not always being rewarded, they take longer to stopping the behavior when reinforcement is removed.

Listening meets a person’s primary need for validation and acceptance.

To positively influence others, you must listen to what is spoken and what is left unsaid, because by doing this you'll learn more about a person’s character, desires, and needs.

Become an authority in the area in which you seek to lead others.

Most people are predisposed to listen to, if not respect, authority.

The technological tools we use keeps us connected to the people that matter to us, and the text (later rich text message) is one of the oldest ways of communication since portable phones came into existence.

It also has a hidden secret that makes us keep checking it.

... deployed by the messaging software and many other products is composed of:

1. Trigger
2. Action
3. Variable Reward
4. Investment

Understanding these four steps makes us see the hidden psychology behind a user's daily tech habits.