Hell is Paved with Good Intentions: The Intricate Relationship Between Cognitive Biases and Dark Patterns

TL;DR

This paper investigates how cognitive biases influence the design and effectiveness of dark patterns in digital interfaces, proposing a model to enhance ethical design and user protection.

Contribution

It introduces the 'Relationship Model of Cognitive Biases and Dark Patterns,' linking psychological biases to deceptive design strategies and suggesting ethical intervention points.

Findings

Developed the 'Relationship Model' illustrating bias-pattern interactions

Identified key moments for ethical design reconsideration

Emphasized importance of psychological insights in HCI ethics

Abstract

Throughout the past decade, research in HCI has identified numerous instances of dark patterns in digital interfaces. These efforts have led to a well-fostered typology describing harmful strategies users struggle to navigate. However, an in-depth understanding of the underlying mechanisms that deceive, coerce, or manipulate users is missing. We explore the interplay between cognitive biases and dark patterns to address this gap. To that end, we conducted four focus groups with experts (N=15) in psychology and dark pattern scholarship, inquiring how they conceptualise the relation between cognitive biases and dark patterns. Based on our results, we constructed the "Relationship Model of Cognitive Biases and Dark Patterns" which illustrates how cognitive bias and deceptive design patterns relate and identifies opportune moments for ethical reconsideration and user protection mechanisms. Our insights contribute to the current discourse by emphasising ethical design decisions and their implications in the field of HCI.