C+rl+Al+
Variable Rewards

What is Pull-to-Refresh?

Pulling down and waiting to see what new content appears works like a slot machine lever: the reward is unpredictable, which is what makes the gesture habit-forming.

Where it comes from

Loren Brichter / Tweetie (2009)

How it hooks you

Exploits variable ratio reinforcement: rewards that arrive unpredictably create stronger habits than rewards that arrive every time.

How to resist it

Check content at scheduled times instead of refreshing repeatedly for new updates.

More variable rewards tactics

Explore all 66 tactics in the app