No. #87

Impact Bias
- Overestimating Emotional Impact

Impact bias is the tendency to overestimate the length or the intensity of the future feeling states. This can influence how users anticipate their satisfaction with or the benefits of a product, potentially leading to unrealistic expectations.

Read more on Wikipedia

Product example

Users might overestimate the happiness they’ll derive from a new feature, leading to disappointment if it doesn’t meet inflated expectations.

Empathy tips

1

Set Realistic Expectations

Clearly communicate what users can realistically expect to avoid disappointment.

2

User Feedback Mechanisms

Implement mechanisms for gathering user feedback on actual versus expected impact.

3

Adjust Marketing Messages

Adjust marketing messages to present a balanced view of product benefits.

4

Post-Purchase Support

Offer post-purchase support and resources to manage expectations and satisfaction.

Need an empathic partner?

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Anna Lundqvist
UX & AI ethics expert driving better products and smarter teams.
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Eddy Salzmann
Design lead crafting seamless products and mentoring design teams.
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Ola Möller
Facilitator helping organisations see the big picture and take action.