Locus of control (LoC) — the degree to which individuals perceive outcomes as contingent on their own actions (internal LoC) or external forces (external LoC) — plays a fundamental role in how players interpret success, failure, agency, and fairness in games. Designers strategically manipulate LoC to shape engagement, retention, motivational pacing, and emotional investment. This paper examines internal and external LoC within game systems, explores how designers use control perception to influence behavior, analyzes case studies across genres, and discusses ethical implications for modern product design.

This paper examines the role of grinding as a psychological and structural mechanism within modern video game design. While commonly defined as the repetitive execution of in-game actions to obtain rewards, grinding extends far beyond mechanical progression. Grounded in principles of operant conditioning, variable reward anticipation, and cognitive investment biases, grinding shapes player behaviour, prolongs engagement, and subtly reinforces monetization pathways. Through a product-design lens, this study analyses grinding as both a progression tool and a behavioural manipulation technique, supported by case studies across MMORPGs,…

In the annals of psychological research, the Zeigarnik Effect stands as a seminal concept that was astutely discerned by the distinguished Russian psychologist, Bluma Zeigarnik, in the 1920s. Her pioneering work brought to the fore a captivating revelation: the human psyche demonstrates a proclivity to retain and ruminate upon unfulfilled tasks with greater acuity than those that have reached fruition. The core essence of this effect reverberates through the cross-section of both psychology and product design, intimating profound implications in the realm of user engagement, motivation, and overall experience.

Streaks and daily reward systems have become one of the most pervasive engagement mechanisms in contemporary digital products, particularly in games, mobile applications, and subscription-based platforms. While often framed as harmless motivational tools, these systems rely on a precise combination of behavioral psychology principles—habit loops, loss aversion, and obligation-based engagement—to shape user behavior over time. This paper examines how streaks and daily rewards function not as neutral incentives, but as structured psychological commitments that transform voluntary engagement into perceived obligation. By analyzing their…