Types of psychology in UX writing

UX writing isn’t just about being technical. We write for real people with their own motivations, expectations, and limits. To create a smooth digital experience, it’s important to understand how users think and feel before they act.

This idea comes from behavioral psychology or behaviorism, which says our environment shapes how we behave. With the right approach, you can guide someone’s actions. While some say behaviorism doesn’t consider things like free will or emotions, it can still be useful for helping people navigate digital spaces.^[1]

Social psychology adds that people are influenced by others and social norms, even when alone — this is where the idea of social proof comes from. Cognitive psychology, which looks at how we process information and make decisions, also plays a key role in UX writing. Understanding these principles helps make digital experiences easier and more intuitive for users through UX writing.